By Christina VanGinkel
The biggest complaint I hear continually from fellow scrapbook enthusiasts is lack of storage options for some of the more odd shaped supplies that we as scrappers seem to accumulate at an exceedingly fast rate. Just when someone thinks they have all the room they could ever need for their tools and supplies, they often discover a new technique, tool, or supplier that they just have to acquire! However, as I said, once they get the items home and try to decide how they are going to store the stuff until they use it, or if it is a tool, in between uses, they are at a loss.
Therefore, with that thought in mind, I figured I would share with you some of the more useful ideas I have come across for various scrapbook tools and supplies.
Date Stamp Holder
If you are a user of stamps, and have acquired any of the popular date style stamps that have a rounded handle with a slimmer base leading up to the stamp itself, be sure to check out the spindle style racks. They look like two Frisbees, one atop the other, with curved slices taken out all the way around them for you to conveniently slide the handle of the date stamps into. They work particularly well because even if the ink on the stamps is still a bit wet, the stamps are suspended so that they are not touching anything. I found mine for less than seven dollars in the new Oriental Trading catalog that is devoted to scrapbook supplies.
Ribbon Storage
Another favorite organizer that I have come across, that is actually available from several different places, is a simple see through plastic storage box with holes running along one side. You simply set your rolls of ribbon inside the box and feed the end of each ribbon reel through one of the holes. This allows you to see the ribbon, but also keep it clean and dust free and very easy to access. That is about the most anyone could ask for when it comes to convenient storage of anything!
For ribbon, I have also seen several people store their ribbon in glass canning style jars, and place them on a shelf where they are both easy to see and access, and are kept free of dust.
Cup Hooks
Yes, something as simple as cup hooks screwed up under a shelf, are the perfect way to suspend numerous things. Small gift bags for example, could be filled with various paper scraps, notions, etc., and suspended by their handles from the hooks. They would be easy to use, easy to access, and easily replaced as needed.
Metal Spice Rack
The kind often seen on the inside of kitchen cabinet doors, makes a great organizer for small glass jars filled with all sorts of tiny notions. I have seen where several of them were mounted one atop another and two more side by side, for a maximum amount of use of a minimum amount of space. The woman, who had them in her scrap room, had them filled with glass, baby juice bottles. The juice jars are a bit narrower than typical baby food jars, and they were a perfect fit for the spice rack. Because the jars are a bit taller also, they really took advantage of all of the space.
Three Ring Binders
Standard three ring binders, with zip pockets, are one of my favorite forms of storage for scrapping supplies. You can quickly see at a glance what you have stored, they are easy to pop out the pages of supplies to use when needed, and they keep everything stored in them clean and orderly. Paper, fibers, buttons, stickers, and much more can all be stored in them. If you have tons of supplies, you could even break down the storage by using one binder for each embellishment type, all your fibers in one, all your stickers in another, a third just for rub-ons, and on and on. Then, just hang a shelf in a convenient spot in your scrapping room to store the row of binders on, or tuck them into a cabinet at floor level. A freestanding bookshelf would also be an ideal storage option for the binders.
Friday, March 31, 2006
The Power of Crochet
By Christina VanGinkel
I receive several newsletters each week in my email related to different hobbies that I participate in on a regular basis, such as beadwork, crochet, photography, and others. Mixed amongst the emails this morning was one from Lion Brand yarn. They often have interesting links to patterns for clothing and household items, and ideas for creating items to donate. The email this morning though was filled with ideas for knit and crochet toys and just as fun items for the upcoming Easter holiday.
The patterns were all adorable, and any child would be lucky to receive as a gift one of the patterns made up. This newsletter also brought back memories though of one of the first items I ever crocheted besides a blanket, a mop style doll for my then pre-school aged daughter. I was a new mom, on a tight budget, and loved to spend my evenings crocheting useful things like blankets, washcloths, and even doilies. Then a new magazine hit the newsstands called Hooked on Crochet. In it was easy to follow patterns for everything from outfits for babies and kids, to slippers, to useful items for the house including the blankets and washcloths and doilies I already enjoyed making, but also patterns for items like hot pads and runners. There were also tons of fun patterns for toys for kids and even items for adults that I would never have imagined making up with hook and yarn. Flowers for bouquets, doorstop covers, toaster and tissue covers, wall decor, tree ornaments, Easter baskets, even golf club covers! Some of the designs were a bit on the impractical side, but others were not only useful, by making them I saved money over store bought versions, which was extremely beneficial to my meager budget back then.
My daughter had been begging for a new doll, and not just any doll. She had seen a fancy bed doll at a friend's house, one that sat atop a pillow on a made up bed during the day to dress up the bed. The doll was all frilly and lacy, and was the epitome of a girls' room, the perfect finishing touch. My daughter was too young to know about brand names back then, all she knew was that she thought that the doll was as pretty as can be, and she wanted one for her bed. I did ask the mother where she had found such an exquisite doll, as I knew she was on as tight a budget as I was. She had made it! She had taken apart an old doll form from her own childhood that she had saved, and had sewn the dress part.
I have said this before, but for those of you who do not regularly read my blogs, I love to craft, and feel competent with many types of handcrafts, but I am in no stretch of any imagination able to sew. I can crochet, with both thread and yarns, I love to bead, before my hands gave up on me, and cross-stitch was a favorite pastime. Thread and needle for sewing though have never been my calling.
It was at about this time that a new issue of Hooked on Crochet arrived in my mailbox. In it was an ingenious pattern for a flower and beaded mop doll! The doll head, body, and arms were made up of mainly single crochet stitches, with the bottom of the doll a configuration of single crochet chains forming multitudes of loops. Mixed into the loops were a wild assortment of beads and flowers. The resulting doll was stunning, and also had a halo of flowers on her head and held in her arms a bouquet of matching silk flowers, which finished her off just perfectly.
I worked on the doll every chance I got that, at time when my daughter was not near, so that the finished doll would be a surprise. As a stay at home mom, this was more difficult than you could imagine, and ended up with me crocheting and slipping on beads for several late nights in a row. I finished the doll in time for her birthday in April, and that doll made the day! She showed her off to everyone, and she actually started making her own bed each morning so that she could 'decorate' her room. To this day, she still tells people about her doll. Make some child dreams come true by creating them a toy of their dreams.
I receive several newsletters each week in my email related to different hobbies that I participate in on a regular basis, such as beadwork, crochet, photography, and others. Mixed amongst the emails this morning was one from Lion Brand yarn. They often have interesting links to patterns for clothing and household items, and ideas for creating items to donate. The email this morning though was filled with ideas for knit and crochet toys and just as fun items for the upcoming Easter holiday.
The patterns were all adorable, and any child would be lucky to receive as a gift one of the patterns made up. This newsletter also brought back memories though of one of the first items I ever crocheted besides a blanket, a mop style doll for my then pre-school aged daughter. I was a new mom, on a tight budget, and loved to spend my evenings crocheting useful things like blankets, washcloths, and even doilies. Then a new magazine hit the newsstands called Hooked on Crochet. In it was easy to follow patterns for everything from outfits for babies and kids, to slippers, to useful items for the house including the blankets and washcloths and doilies I already enjoyed making, but also patterns for items like hot pads and runners. There were also tons of fun patterns for toys for kids and even items for adults that I would never have imagined making up with hook and yarn. Flowers for bouquets, doorstop covers, toaster and tissue covers, wall decor, tree ornaments, Easter baskets, even golf club covers! Some of the designs were a bit on the impractical side, but others were not only useful, by making them I saved money over store bought versions, which was extremely beneficial to my meager budget back then.
My daughter had been begging for a new doll, and not just any doll. She had seen a fancy bed doll at a friend's house, one that sat atop a pillow on a made up bed during the day to dress up the bed. The doll was all frilly and lacy, and was the epitome of a girls' room, the perfect finishing touch. My daughter was too young to know about brand names back then, all she knew was that she thought that the doll was as pretty as can be, and she wanted one for her bed. I did ask the mother where she had found such an exquisite doll, as I knew she was on as tight a budget as I was. She had made it! She had taken apart an old doll form from her own childhood that she had saved, and had sewn the dress part.
I have said this before, but for those of you who do not regularly read my blogs, I love to craft, and feel competent with many types of handcrafts, but I am in no stretch of any imagination able to sew. I can crochet, with both thread and yarns, I love to bead, before my hands gave up on me, and cross-stitch was a favorite pastime. Thread and needle for sewing though have never been my calling.
It was at about this time that a new issue of Hooked on Crochet arrived in my mailbox. In it was an ingenious pattern for a flower and beaded mop doll! The doll head, body, and arms were made up of mainly single crochet stitches, with the bottom of the doll a configuration of single crochet chains forming multitudes of loops. Mixed into the loops were a wild assortment of beads and flowers. The resulting doll was stunning, and also had a halo of flowers on her head and held in her arms a bouquet of matching silk flowers, which finished her off just perfectly.
I worked on the doll every chance I got that, at time when my daughter was not near, so that the finished doll would be a surprise. As a stay at home mom, this was more difficult than you could imagine, and ended up with me crocheting and slipping on beads for several late nights in a row. I finished the doll in time for her birthday in April, and that doll made the day! She showed her off to everyone, and she actually started making her own bed each morning so that she could 'decorate' her room. To this day, she still tells people about her doll. Make some child dreams come true by creating them a toy of their dreams.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Doodling on your Scrapbook Layouts
By Christina VanGinkel
Scrapbooking, like everything else in life, seems to go through constant changes, often ending up back at its roots. Where scrapbooking was once accomplished with a few snapshots, maybe a few snippets of memorabilia, and some notes in the margins, it then progressed to fancy pages full of store bought embellishments enhancing the snapshots. Many people still rely on the store bought embellishments, and will for all of their scrapbooks, but just as many individuals are returning to the simpler form of creating a scrapbook, relying on memorabilia and journaling in their own handwriting, at least for some of their pages.
Some artistically inclined individuals, and even some that are not all that good at art, are also including drawings and doodles in their own hand to decorate their scrapbook pages with, and it is this doodling, that I find the most impressive actually. I am just so blown away by the idea that sometime in the future, an ancestor of my very own, might open up a book that I made, and not only be able to page through the pictures I snapped with my camera and documented in the pages of the book, and read my journaling and notes, but that they will also be able to instantly know that I was a creative person. That through my drawings and doodling, they will also be able to learn of my love of art itself.
For starters, I was just glad to see this back to the roots trend developing. I have always been a doodler myself, but not what anyone would mistake for an artist. So, when I saw several layouts in online scrapbook blogs that showcased other's form of doodling, in some very fun ways, it provided me with the inspiration to go ahead and doodle on some of my own layouts. Scrapbooking is suppose to be an expression of our own memories, and what a better way to recall those memories in the future than through our own creative expressions.
Doodling with letters is actually one of my favorite forms of adding my own handiwork to a layout. I love drawing lettering with swirls and swoops, and making my words, form shapes. I also love taking letters and turning them into something else. For example, my son's name is Cody. I have always had a unique way of using the letters in his name to create a design. I had always wanted to include this design in a layout, and was going to scan the image into my computer and print it out, but at about this time, was when I saw the other layouts with the handwork done directly on the pages. So when I used my favorite black sharpie to create the design on a layout I made documenting this same son's recent snowboarding injury, the design ended up looking just like a logo, and it blended in well with the snapshots of his snowboard and the metal pipe he hit. So impressed was he with the way the layout turned out, and with how his name looked when sketched out in this manner, he asked me if there was some way we could make it into a sticker to put on his snowboard for real! For anyone with a teenager, you know how a request such as this is about the highest form of respect for our art that we could ever hope to receive!
I know I will continue to buy scrapbook supplies, everything from paper to stickers, to every other embellishment imaginable, but at the same time, I will just as comfortably reach for my sharpies and assorted pens and markers, to do a little doodle here and there. I will also mix the two more freely also. Just because I use a purchased mat, frame, and title, does not mean that I cannot take pen in hand and create personalized corners on the matting. Edges, and corners, even titles can all turn out impressive when done by hand. If I have a few words that I want to use on a layout, and I cannot find it as a sticker or a rub on, then I will not hesitate to pen them directly onto the layout in my own hand. If you are looking for new techniques to make your layouts as impressive as can be, then let your artistic nature really come to the surface and doodle away!
Scrapbooking, like everything else in life, seems to go through constant changes, often ending up back at its roots. Where scrapbooking was once accomplished with a few snapshots, maybe a few snippets of memorabilia, and some notes in the margins, it then progressed to fancy pages full of store bought embellishments enhancing the snapshots. Many people still rely on the store bought embellishments, and will for all of their scrapbooks, but just as many individuals are returning to the simpler form of creating a scrapbook, relying on memorabilia and journaling in their own handwriting, at least for some of their pages.
Some artistically inclined individuals, and even some that are not all that good at art, are also including drawings and doodles in their own hand to decorate their scrapbook pages with, and it is this doodling, that I find the most impressive actually. I am just so blown away by the idea that sometime in the future, an ancestor of my very own, might open up a book that I made, and not only be able to page through the pictures I snapped with my camera and documented in the pages of the book, and read my journaling and notes, but that they will also be able to instantly know that I was a creative person. That through my drawings and doodling, they will also be able to learn of my love of art itself.
For starters, I was just glad to see this back to the roots trend developing. I have always been a doodler myself, but not what anyone would mistake for an artist. So, when I saw several layouts in online scrapbook blogs that showcased other's form of doodling, in some very fun ways, it provided me with the inspiration to go ahead and doodle on some of my own layouts. Scrapbooking is suppose to be an expression of our own memories, and what a better way to recall those memories in the future than through our own creative expressions.
Doodling with letters is actually one of my favorite forms of adding my own handiwork to a layout. I love drawing lettering with swirls and swoops, and making my words, form shapes. I also love taking letters and turning them into something else. For example, my son's name is Cody. I have always had a unique way of using the letters in his name to create a design. I had always wanted to include this design in a layout, and was going to scan the image into my computer and print it out, but at about this time, was when I saw the other layouts with the handwork done directly on the pages. So when I used my favorite black sharpie to create the design on a layout I made documenting this same son's recent snowboarding injury, the design ended up looking just like a logo, and it blended in well with the snapshots of his snowboard and the metal pipe he hit. So impressed was he with the way the layout turned out, and with how his name looked when sketched out in this manner, he asked me if there was some way we could make it into a sticker to put on his snowboard for real! For anyone with a teenager, you know how a request such as this is about the highest form of respect for our art that we could ever hope to receive!
I know I will continue to buy scrapbook supplies, everything from paper to stickers, to every other embellishment imaginable, but at the same time, I will just as comfortably reach for my sharpies and assorted pens and markers, to do a little doodle here and there. I will also mix the two more freely also. Just because I use a purchased mat, frame, and title, does not mean that I cannot take pen in hand and create personalized corners on the matting. Edges, and corners, even titles can all turn out impressive when done by hand. If I have a few words that I want to use on a layout, and I cannot find it as a sticker or a rub on, then I will not hesitate to pen them directly onto the layout in my own hand. If you are looking for new techniques to make your layouts as impressive as can be, then let your artistic nature really come to the surface and doodle away!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Children and Coin Collecting
By Christina VanGinkel
When many people think of collecting coins as a hobby, they assume you are referring to a collection that is worth a lot of money. They would be right in many instances. However, many people collect coins as 'just' a hobby. They enjoy finding different coins, looking up their unique differences, maybe looking for coins from different countries that have filtered into our pocketbooks via cash registers all over the good old USA. There is also always the chance of finding a coin that is worth far more than its face value, sort of like a lottery in waiting. For kids, coin collecting can be a great way for them to learn the value of collecting, to see how something as simple as money, can vary greatly.
My own three children, two of whom are now adults, each have what I refer to as a coin collection. In each one, you will find silver colored pennies, Susan B. Anthony Dollars, Wheat Pennies, Buffalo Nickels, Bicentennial Quarters, and Sacagawea Dollars. They also have paper two-dollar bills, and most recently, they have each been collecting the quarters that represent each state. My husband is also collecting the state quarters. Each of my children also has a collection that includes a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter from the year that they were born. When they were small, and we first assembled these, they thought they were cool, and now that they are older, they still like the idea that we took the time to look for and collect each of these coins from the year that they were each born.
When my mother was still alive, her favorite thing to do with any of her grandchildren when they would come over for a visit, especially when the weather did not permit heading outdoors to the park, or to play a game of kickball, was to dump out her change jar, and sit down with them and look through the pile in search of rare coins. She subscribed to several different magazines and journals on coin collecting, and she was capable of whiling away many a rainy afternoon with the kids by searching for treasure among a heap of common coins.
So popular a hobby is coin collecting, and knowing that it is one of the easiest hobbies to get kids interested in, book publishers have taken all of this to mind and have published several good books on the subject, just for kids. If you have a youngster who you think would benefit from such an intriguing hobby, pick up one or two of these to get them headed in the right direction.
Coin Collecting for Kids, by Steve Otfinoski
Coin Collecting for Kids, by Steve Otfinoski, looks at the same concepts we used to get our kids interested in coin collecting, including learning about the many different coins the U.S. has minted throughout the years. The book also included slots for saving coins, so they can immediately begin their collection, including my own favorite, Birth year coins! It also has room for them to collect the currently popular state coins. For any kid just starting this collection, this is the perfect way for the kids to get a bit of a lesson on each of the sates at the same time, as each corresponding slot also lists the each state's nickname, motto, flower, and bird. The book is spiral bound, and sturdy enough that it will be a welcome addition to any budding coin collector for many a year to come.
Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set
The Whitman Guide to coin Collecting is included in Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set. It has information on beginning a life in this fun and interesting hobby, mint marks, how to grade coins, how to spot counterfeit coins, tips for searching for valuable coins, and much more, making it the perfect beginners guide.
At the same time, be sure to provide them with a few piles of change to dig through every now and then. Because when I asked my kids what one of their favorite things about coin collecting was, all three of them responded that it was, without a doubt, the time spent with my mom, and I, looking through our change jar! If a hobby can make spending time with your parents and grandparents fun, then it is definitely on my list of hobbies to recommend to youngsters everywhere!
When many people think of collecting coins as a hobby, they assume you are referring to a collection that is worth a lot of money. They would be right in many instances. However, many people collect coins as 'just' a hobby. They enjoy finding different coins, looking up their unique differences, maybe looking for coins from different countries that have filtered into our pocketbooks via cash registers all over the good old USA. There is also always the chance of finding a coin that is worth far more than its face value, sort of like a lottery in waiting. For kids, coin collecting can be a great way for them to learn the value of collecting, to see how something as simple as money, can vary greatly.
My own three children, two of whom are now adults, each have what I refer to as a coin collection. In each one, you will find silver colored pennies, Susan B. Anthony Dollars, Wheat Pennies, Buffalo Nickels, Bicentennial Quarters, and Sacagawea Dollars. They also have paper two-dollar bills, and most recently, they have each been collecting the quarters that represent each state. My husband is also collecting the state quarters. Each of my children also has a collection that includes a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter from the year that they were born. When they were small, and we first assembled these, they thought they were cool, and now that they are older, they still like the idea that we took the time to look for and collect each of these coins from the year that they were each born.
When my mother was still alive, her favorite thing to do with any of her grandchildren when they would come over for a visit, especially when the weather did not permit heading outdoors to the park, or to play a game of kickball, was to dump out her change jar, and sit down with them and look through the pile in search of rare coins. She subscribed to several different magazines and journals on coin collecting, and she was capable of whiling away many a rainy afternoon with the kids by searching for treasure among a heap of common coins.
So popular a hobby is coin collecting, and knowing that it is one of the easiest hobbies to get kids interested in, book publishers have taken all of this to mind and have published several good books on the subject, just for kids. If you have a youngster who you think would benefit from such an intriguing hobby, pick up one or two of these to get them headed in the right direction.
Coin Collecting for Kids, by Steve Otfinoski
Coin Collecting for Kids, by Steve Otfinoski, looks at the same concepts we used to get our kids interested in coin collecting, including learning about the many different coins the U.S. has minted throughout the years. The book also included slots for saving coins, so they can immediately begin their collection, including my own favorite, Birth year coins! It also has room for them to collect the currently popular state coins. For any kid just starting this collection, this is the perfect way for the kids to get a bit of a lesson on each of the sates at the same time, as each corresponding slot also lists the each state's nickname, motto, flower, and bird. The book is spiral bound, and sturdy enough that it will be a welcome addition to any budding coin collector for many a year to come.
Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set
The Whitman Guide to coin Collecting is included in Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set. It has information on beginning a life in this fun and interesting hobby, mint marks, how to grade coins, how to spot counterfeit coins, tips for searching for valuable coins, and much more, making it the perfect beginners guide.
At the same time, be sure to provide them with a few piles of change to dig through every now and then. Because when I asked my kids what one of their favorite things about coin collecting was, all three of them responded that it was, without a doubt, the time spent with my mom, and I, looking through our change jar! If a hobby can make spending time with your parents and grandparents fun, then it is definitely on my list of hobbies to recommend to youngsters everywhere!
Build-a-Bear Workshop
By Christina VanGinkel
What could be more special to children than their very own stuffed furry friend could? How about one they stuff and make all by themselves! The Build a Bear concept is such a great way for kids to experience the hobby of crafting, that the first time I heard about them, I wondered why somebody had not thought this notion up a long time ago.
The best part of the whole idea is that you are not limited to just teddy bears either. They have all sorts of amazingly fun critters to make. Just browsing their website, I cam across traditional teddy bears, rabbits, a giraffe, a koala bear, Fuzzy Chick, Floppy Gator, White Tiger, a wide assortment of dogs, Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, Kitty Cats, and even Frosty the Snowman.
The Build a Bear concept is for all ages too, though I believe it was originally intended for children. So wide reaching across the ages has it become, that they even offer a corporate option, referred to as CorBearAte Sales. They will design custom animals or clothing in honor of your company, and have a Build a Sound chip that you can record on to and place inside of your creations to deliver a personal message to your employees, or to whomever the stuffed animals are given to. They make great incentives for workers, and for those companies looking for some fun outlets for their employees to relax with, this could be just the thing to bring some smiles and laughter to an otherwise stress filled office staff! I know one company that was looking for a way for their employees to feel like they really had a hand in some gifts that they wanted to donate to a local charity. The employees attended a Build a Bear workshop, where they each created their own bear. The bears were then auctioned off and the proceeds were donated to the charity in need.
Build a Bear workshops are also great for hosting a child's birthday party at. Each guest will go home with a stuffed friend and memories to last a lifetime. How many birthday parties can promise you that? What else is so great about the Build a Bear concept is that they do not just stop with the making of the animals, but they go on to offer all sorts of personalized items to continue the fun. You can outfit your new furry friends with everything from camping gear, to their own cell phones and Paw Track players. If your furry friend is into being a styling animal, you can outfit them with as stylish a wig as you can imagine, and include all the grooming gear to go along with it, so that their wigs are always coifed just perfectly! If all of this were not enough choices, they also offer a full line of various styled clothing options, including seasonal options, outerwear, internationally flavored outfits, NFL wear, MLB outfits, NBA uniforms, and costumes such as Spiderman, Batman, and the Wizard of OZ. You can dress your stuffed friend up to look like a hula dancer or the king of your own private land, a ballerina, a Viking, a race car driver, or even a magician. There are so many choices for clothing options, that if you or your child can think of it, chances are you will be able to dress up your new friend in an outfit to match.
If your furry friend is going to have a place of honor at home, they also offer furniture sized just for them, including a chair, love seat, and bed. In addition, for the budding crafter themselves, the Build a Bear Workshop has even come up with a full line of scrapbook supplies to help your child create a lasting memory of their brand new friend. They have an 8" x 8" scrapbook album, a princess scrapbook kit, a Beary Basics scrapbook kit, Birthday scrapbook kit, a Best Friends scrapbook kit, and more. With all of these choices, you are sure to find the perfect set to help your child scrap the very ideas and memories that they want. If your child would rather keep a diary about their bear, and have room for some other important ideas, then they can always choose the Fuzzy Diary and Pen Set instead of or in addition to the Scrapbook kits.
What could be more special to children than their very own stuffed furry friend could? How about one they stuff and make all by themselves! The Build a Bear concept is such a great way for kids to experience the hobby of crafting, that the first time I heard about them, I wondered why somebody had not thought this notion up a long time ago.
The best part of the whole idea is that you are not limited to just teddy bears either. They have all sorts of amazingly fun critters to make. Just browsing their website, I cam across traditional teddy bears, rabbits, a giraffe, a koala bear, Fuzzy Chick, Floppy Gator, White Tiger, a wide assortment of dogs, Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, Kitty Cats, and even Frosty the Snowman.
The Build a Bear concept is for all ages too, though I believe it was originally intended for children. So wide reaching across the ages has it become, that they even offer a corporate option, referred to as CorBearAte Sales. They will design custom animals or clothing in honor of your company, and have a Build a Sound chip that you can record on to and place inside of your creations to deliver a personal message to your employees, or to whomever the stuffed animals are given to. They make great incentives for workers, and for those companies looking for some fun outlets for their employees to relax with, this could be just the thing to bring some smiles and laughter to an otherwise stress filled office staff! I know one company that was looking for a way for their employees to feel like they really had a hand in some gifts that they wanted to donate to a local charity. The employees attended a Build a Bear workshop, where they each created their own bear. The bears were then auctioned off and the proceeds were donated to the charity in need.
Build a Bear workshops are also great for hosting a child's birthday party at. Each guest will go home with a stuffed friend and memories to last a lifetime. How many birthday parties can promise you that? What else is so great about the Build a Bear concept is that they do not just stop with the making of the animals, but they go on to offer all sorts of personalized items to continue the fun. You can outfit your new furry friends with everything from camping gear, to their own cell phones and Paw Track players. If your furry friend is into being a styling animal, you can outfit them with as stylish a wig as you can imagine, and include all the grooming gear to go along with it, so that their wigs are always coifed just perfectly! If all of this were not enough choices, they also offer a full line of various styled clothing options, including seasonal options, outerwear, internationally flavored outfits, NFL wear, MLB outfits, NBA uniforms, and costumes such as Spiderman, Batman, and the Wizard of OZ. You can dress your stuffed friend up to look like a hula dancer or the king of your own private land, a ballerina, a Viking, a race car driver, or even a magician. There are so many choices for clothing options, that if you or your child can think of it, chances are you will be able to dress up your new friend in an outfit to match.
If your furry friend is going to have a place of honor at home, they also offer furniture sized just for them, including a chair, love seat, and bed. In addition, for the budding crafter themselves, the Build a Bear Workshop has even come up with a full line of scrapbook supplies to help your child create a lasting memory of their brand new friend. They have an 8" x 8" scrapbook album, a princess scrapbook kit, a Beary Basics scrapbook kit, Birthday scrapbook kit, a Best Friends scrapbook kit, and more. With all of these choices, you are sure to find the perfect set to help your child scrap the very ideas and memories that they want. If your child would rather keep a diary about their bear, and have room for some other important ideas, then they can always choose the Fuzzy Diary and Pen Set instead of or in addition to the Scrapbook kits.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Creating your Own Scrapbook Overlays
By Christina VanGinkel
Scrapbook overlays are exactly what they sound like. They are placed over your scrapbook layout, sometimes as a defining focal point, such as a frame, and other times just as an added layer, covering the completed layout beneath to provide an extra layer of interest. The problem with overlays though, is often finding one that will reflect the mood or option that you want it to. Thanks to the innovative computer along with your friendly printer, you can make your own overlays.
Hardware wise, if you want to make an overlay in a size that is bigger than your typical printer will print, you will have to invest in a printer that is capable of printing in this larger dimension. The Canon I9900 for example, will print on materials up to a stunning 13" by 19" size. There are other printers besides this one that will print in the larger dimensions that will make your projects suitable for use in a 12x12 scrapbook, but you could also use a smaller size overlay, such as an 8 1/2 " x 11" , and either use it at this size, or even reduce it to a size such as 8" x 8" so that the dimensions you are working with are at least squared off evenly. Part of the fun about making your own overlays lies not only in printing on them exactly what you want to have on them element and word wise, but also experimenting with different sizes and variations that you can never achieve when using store purcahsed ones.
Transparency blanks (what you print on to make your own overlays) are sold that are compatible with different printer types and copiers. Most home users will want to purchase transparency sheets that are compatible with either their laser printers, or their inkjet printers. I cannot stress enough the importance of being sure to buy those that are suitable for your printer. You should not try to run a transparency that is made for an inkjet printer through your laser prinrer and vice versa. While you can often mix and match papers in both types of printers, transparency sheets are not nearly as compatible!
Another product than can be used to make your own transparencies is vellum. While not a traditional overlay in the truest sense, vellum can be used with some quite stunning results. I printed a cream colored filigree design on vellum, and coupled it with a cream on cream scrapbook page of my wedding pictures. The results of the vellum overlay on the layout was actually quite stunning. I accented the vellum and the page design itself with my gold paint pen, for a layout that was both rich in design and concept.
Once you have everything you need to make your own overlays, that is when you will start to realize the open doors awaiting you. Overlays are truly one of the most full featured products that you can use when creating a scrapbook layout. No more will you be constrained by the designs that you can find to purchase. For example, I created a page that was ok, but it was lacking something of defination of exactly what I wanted it to portray. Instead of tearing the whole page apart, I created an overlay with a small design in one corner, and some fun words in the opposing corner. The layout was of my grandson, and featured him at the park on the swing and crawling on the monkey bars. I used the words play, smile, fun, and summer in one corner of the overlay, and in the opposing corner I printed a picture of a monkey. On the edges of the overlay that did not have the words or the picture, I made a border of what looked like monkey bars. This pulled the other pieces of the whole design together, and created a frame. Together, the layout and the overlay combined to make a very fun page! I have since donme several similar layouts, each with their own unique words and pictures.
Once you realize how simple an overlay is to make, you can also find different printable versions online that scrapbook enthusiasts commonly make and share amongst each other.
Scrapbook overlays are exactly what they sound like. They are placed over your scrapbook layout, sometimes as a defining focal point, such as a frame, and other times just as an added layer, covering the completed layout beneath to provide an extra layer of interest. The problem with overlays though, is often finding one that will reflect the mood or option that you want it to. Thanks to the innovative computer along with your friendly printer, you can make your own overlays.
Hardware wise, if you want to make an overlay in a size that is bigger than your typical printer will print, you will have to invest in a printer that is capable of printing in this larger dimension. The Canon I9900 for example, will print on materials up to a stunning 13" by 19" size. There are other printers besides this one that will print in the larger dimensions that will make your projects suitable for use in a 12x12 scrapbook, but you could also use a smaller size overlay, such as an 8 1/2 " x 11" , and either use it at this size, or even reduce it to a size such as 8" x 8" so that the dimensions you are working with are at least squared off evenly. Part of the fun about making your own overlays lies not only in printing on them exactly what you want to have on them element and word wise, but also experimenting with different sizes and variations that you can never achieve when using store purcahsed ones.
Transparency blanks (what you print on to make your own overlays) are sold that are compatible with different printer types and copiers. Most home users will want to purchase transparency sheets that are compatible with either their laser printers, or their inkjet printers. I cannot stress enough the importance of being sure to buy those that are suitable for your printer. You should not try to run a transparency that is made for an inkjet printer through your laser prinrer and vice versa. While you can often mix and match papers in both types of printers, transparency sheets are not nearly as compatible!
Another product than can be used to make your own transparencies is vellum. While not a traditional overlay in the truest sense, vellum can be used with some quite stunning results. I printed a cream colored filigree design on vellum, and coupled it with a cream on cream scrapbook page of my wedding pictures. The results of the vellum overlay on the layout was actually quite stunning. I accented the vellum and the page design itself with my gold paint pen, for a layout that was both rich in design and concept.
Once you have everything you need to make your own overlays, that is when you will start to realize the open doors awaiting you. Overlays are truly one of the most full featured products that you can use when creating a scrapbook layout. No more will you be constrained by the designs that you can find to purchase. For example, I created a page that was ok, but it was lacking something of defination of exactly what I wanted it to portray. Instead of tearing the whole page apart, I created an overlay with a small design in one corner, and some fun words in the opposing corner. The layout was of my grandson, and featured him at the park on the swing and crawling on the monkey bars. I used the words play, smile, fun, and summer in one corner of the overlay, and in the opposing corner I printed a picture of a monkey. On the edges of the overlay that did not have the words or the picture, I made a border of what looked like monkey bars. This pulled the other pieces of the whole design together, and created a frame. Together, the layout and the overlay combined to make a very fun page! I have since donme several similar layouts, each with their own unique words and pictures.
Once you realize how simple an overlay is to make, you can also find different printable versions online that scrapbook enthusiasts commonly make and share amongst each other.
Making Wilton Melt and Pour Candy
By Christina VanGinkel
Looking for a hobby that is both fun, and can be consumable? Do I have the hobby for you! Make some candy today without all the mess and fuss of traditional candy making! When I think of melt and pour, I immediately think of soap. What else comes in a fun and easy to use melt and pour mix though is candy, specifically Wilton brand Candy Melts. They are available in different colors, including Light Cocoa, Dark Cocoa, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, White, Lavender, Orange, Pink, Chocolate Mint, and Peanut Butter. There are also Candy Color sets available, including the Garden Candy Color Set, which includes Violet, Pink, Green, and Black, or the Primary Candy Color Set, which includes Red, Blue, Yellow, and Orange. These are great for personalizing designs through color. They can be added to the plain and colored candy for an amazing array of color choices!
The Candy Melts can also be left in their original flavor or altered with Wilton brand Candy Flavors. Candy Flavors come in a convenient candy flavoring set which includes: Peppermint, Cherry, Cinnamon, and Creme De Menthe, or in individual bottles of Raspberry or Orange. With all of these flavors, you are sure to be able to make candy is flavors to please everyone who might be lucky enough to sample some of your candy.
What makes all of these so easy to use is that unlike chocolate, which many of us who make candy immediately think of when using a melt and pour process, the Wilton brand Candy Melts are not as difficult to use or make as when we use chocolate. The process of melting the Wilton Brand Candy Melts is so simple, that even kids can get in on the fun as long as they have adult supervision. The most convenient method is of course in the microwave. However, even easier yet, is when you first place the Candy Melts into either a bottle specifically made by Wilton just for the purpose of conveniently melting these very candies. They come with a screw cap with a wide top opening for pouring in the un-melted candies. Once melted, the top is made so that squeezing the melted candy right where you want it to go is as simple as can be. Use a separate bottle for each color and flavor mix, and you can also store the leftover mix right in the same bottles, so reheating them is also extremely expedient. Wilton also has disposable decorating bags that can be used for melting the candies right inside. Once melted, you simply snip off the end to squeeze out the melted mixtures wherever you want, and simply toss the whole mess into the trash when finished.
Traditional melting methods such as a double boiler or slow cooker could also be utilized, especially if making large quantities of candy all at one time. However, for small or moderate sized batches, I highly recommend the bottles or the disposable bags, as they are easily the most convenient ways for not only melting the candies, but also for making use of them, especially when making designs.
One of my favorite uses for the Wilton Candy Melts is for suckers. Besides the supplies already listed, all you will need is a pack of Lollipop Sticks. They are available in plain white or in packs of colors. You will also need wax paper. If desired, pick up a mold that can be used for making lollipops. They will look like a traditional candy mold, but also have a line running from each space where you set the lollipop stick. Set in the stick, and pour the melted mix right on top. Once cooled, simply pop each lollipop right out of the mold. The first time I ever used the Wilton Candy Melts, I did not use a mold. I placed a stick down on wax paper, and freeform poured a Christmas tree over the stick. I created several dozen Tree Lollipops in this manner. Each looked a bit different from the others, but when they were completely dry, I wrapped them in green and red cellophane, tied with ribbon, and gave them as favors at a Christmas Tea that I hosted. Everyone thought that the lollipops were cute as could be!
Looking for a hobby that is both fun, and can be consumable? Do I have the hobby for you! Make some candy today without all the mess and fuss of traditional candy making! When I think of melt and pour, I immediately think of soap. What else comes in a fun and easy to use melt and pour mix though is candy, specifically Wilton brand Candy Melts. They are available in different colors, including Light Cocoa, Dark Cocoa, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, White, Lavender, Orange, Pink, Chocolate Mint, and Peanut Butter. There are also Candy Color sets available, including the Garden Candy Color Set, which includes Violet, Pink, Green, and Black, or the Primary Candy Color Set, which includes Red, Blue, Yellow, and Orange. These are great for personalizing designs through color. They can be added to the plain and colored candy for an amazing array of color choices!
The Candy Melts can also be left in their original flavor or altered with Wilton brand Candy Flavors. Candy Flavors come in a convenient candy flavoring set which includes: Peppermint, Cherry, Cinnamon, and Creme De Menthe, or in individual bottles of Raspberry or Orange. With all of these flavors, you are sure to be able to make candy is flavors to please everyone who might be lucky enough to sample some of your candy.
What makes all of these so easy to use is that unlike chocolate, which many of us who make candy immediately think of when using a melt and pour process, the Wilton brand Candy Melts are not as difficult to use or make as when we use chocolate. The process of melting the Wilton Brand Candy Melts is so simple, that even kids can get in on the fun as long as they have adult supervision. The most convenient method is of course in the microwave. However, even easier yet, is when you first place the Candy Melts into either a bottle specifically made by Wilton just for the purpose of conveniently melting these very candies. They come with a screw cap with a wide top opening for pouring in the un-melted candies. Once melted, the top is made so that squeezing the melted candy right where you want it to go is as simple as can be. Use a separate bottle for each color and flavor mix, and you can also store the leftover mix right in the same bottles, so reheating them is also extremely expedient. Wilton also has disposable decorating bags that can be used for melting the candies right inside. Once melted, you simply snip off the end to squeeze out the melted mixtures wherever you want, and simply toss the whole mess into the trash when finished.
Traditional melting methods such as a double boiler or slow cooker could also be utilized, especially if making large quantities of candy all at one time. However, for small or moderate sized batches, I highly recommend the bottles or the disposable bags, as they are easily the most convenient ways for not only melting the candies, but also for making use of them, especially when making designs.
One of my favorite uses for the Wilton Candy Melts is for suckers. Besides the supplies already listed, all you will need is a pack of Lollipop Sticks. They are available in plain white or in packs of colors. You will also need wax paper. If desired, pick up a mold that can be used for making lollipops. They will look like a traditional candy mold, but also have a line running from each space where you set the lollipop stick. Set in the stick, and pour the melted mix right on top. Once cooled, simply pop each lollipop right out of the mold. The first time I ever used the Wilton Candy Melts, I did not use a mold. I placed a stick down on wax paper, and freeform poured a Christmas tree over the stick. I created several dozen Tree Lollipops in this manner. Each looked a bit different from the others, but when they were completely dry, I wrapped them in green and red cellophane, tied with ribbon, and gave them as favors at a Christmas Tea that I hosted. Everyone thought that the lollipops were cute as could be!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Playing Instant Win Games and Entering Contests
By Christina VanGinkel
If I had to choose my favorite hobby out of all that, I participate in, entering contests would not be my number one favorite, but it would be close to the top. I have always been a fan of having the chance to win something for no money. Simply filling out an entry form, maybe answering a few questions, and then dropping it in the mail, or with the advent of the Internet, simply pressing the submit button, and who knows what might be mine for the taking! At the same time, I can honestly say that I am not a big fan of lotteries and other pay to play type contests. Maybe it is because I am what is often referred to as a penny pincher, and the simple fact that I have won enough of the free to enter contests, that paying for the much of the same chances just does not make much sense to me.
My mother was always entering this contest or that contest, oftentimes those that required you to solve a simple word puzzle to progress to the next round. While she knew her chances of actually winning any prize of substance were small, she always had fun participating, and she was rarely without a new puzzle to work on. I am sure that her love of puzzles and contests had a lot to do with my own fascination with contests. I still play and enter some of the very same contests that she did years ago, I as much a fan of playing the games as winning them!
Another reason I love entering, is the fact that I in fact did win two major prizes years ago, and ever since then, even the small prizes are welcome wins. My second big win was for an Internet search engine, and I won $444.44! Nobody believed me when I won it, and they all said that it would never arrive, that it was probably some scam online. Well, it did arrive, and I was thrilled. Not long after that, I won a Sony Playstation 2 game for my youngest son. He not only still has the game, I heard him telling a friend not that long ago, that his mother won it. He sounded quite impressed!
My first big win was over twenty years ago, and it involved a local grocery store. In order to enter, you had to stop at the store and have a card punched. There was no purchase necessary, and there were weeks that I stopped just to have the card punched, as it was on my route to work, yet I did not need anything from the store. If they drew your name, you had to bring in your card to show that it was punched, and you then won the cash that grew each week that they drew a name and that person did not have their card punched. I was working as a waitress, and my husband had been injured on a job that had no workmen's comp. Cash was short, and with two toddlers at the time, we did not have a clue how we were going to make our mortgage that month. I was actually at work one evening when my husband phoned me and asked if I had stopped the previous week to have the card punched for the current week's drawing. I had and I won enough to cover that month's mortgage payment and fill the cupboards with groceries for several weeks.
I have since gone on to win everything from men's boxer shorts, to music CD's, a marker set, and other smaller prizes of cash. Much of the time though, it is truly not the prizes themselves that matter, but the fun of the chase! I love spending time online searching for new contests, and my favorites have become the many instant win games that are so popular. Most are scratch and wins, or spin a wheel type games.
A quick browse through the current online games rewarded me with chances to win everything from free magazine subscriptions, to toys, a year's supply of diapers, various trips, an iPod, music downloads, and gift checks for shopping sprees at select stores.
Instant win games and traditional contests are fun to play. If you have not ever given them a chance, go for it. You have nothing to lose, and always the chance to gain!
If I had to choose my favorite hobby out of all that, I participate in, entering contests would not be my number one favorite, but it would be close to the top. I have always been a fan of having the chance to win something for no money. Simply filling out an entry form, maybe answering a few questions, and then dropping it in the mail, or with the advent of the Internet, simply pressing the submit button, and who knows what might be mine for the taking! At the same time, I can honestly say that I am not a big fan of lotteries and other pay to play type contests. Maybe it is because I am what is often referred to as a penny pincher, and the simple fact that I have won enough of the free to enter contests, that paying for the much of the same chances just does not make much sense to me.
My mother was always entering this contest or that contest, oftentimes those that required you to solve a simple word puzzle to progress to the next round. While she knew her chances of actually winning any prize of substance were small, she always had fun participating, and she was rarely without a new puzzle to work on. I am sure that her love of puzzles and contests had a lot to do with my own fascination with contests. I still play and enter some of the very same contests that she did years ago, I as much a fan of playing the games as winning them!
Another reason I love entering, is the fact that I in fact did win two major prizes years ago, and ever since then, even the small prizes are welcome wins. My second big win was for an Internet search engine, and I won $444.44! Nobody believed me when I won it, and they all said that it would never arrive, that it was probably some scam online. Well, it did arrive, and I was thrilled. Not long after that, I won a Sony Playstation 2 game for my youngest son. He not only still has the game, I heard him telling a friend not that long ago, that his mother won it. He sounded quite impressed!
My first big win was over twenty years ago, and it involved a local grocery store. In order to enter, you had to stop at the store and have a card punched. There was no purchase necessary, and there were weeks that I stopped just to have the card punched, as it was on my route to work, yet I did not need anything from the store. If they drew your name, you had to bring in your card to show that it was punched, and you then won the cash that grew each week that they drew a name and that person did not have their card punched. I was working as a waitress, and my husband had been injured on a job that had no workmen's comp. Cash was short, and with two toddlers at the time, we did not have a clue how we were going to make our mortgage that month. I was actually at work one evening when my husband phoned me and asked if I had stopped the previous week to have the card punched for the current week's drawing. I had and I won enough to cover that month's mortgage payment and fill the cupboards with groceries for several weeks.
I have since gone on to win everything from men's boxer shorts, to music CD's, a marker set, and other smaller prizes of cash. Much of the time though, it is truly not the prizes themselves that matter, but the fun of the chase! I love spending time online searching for new contests, and my favorites have become the many instant win games that are so popular. Most are scratch and wins, or spin a wheel type games.
A quick browse through the current online games rewarded me with chances to win everything from free magazine subscriptions, to toys, a year's supply of diapers, various trips, an iPod, music downloads, and gift checks for shopping sprees at select stores.
Instant win games and traditional contests are fun to play. If you have not ever given them a chance, go for it. You have nothing to lose, and always the chance to gain!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Collecting Salt and Pepper Shakers
By Christina VanGinkel
Collecting salt shakers and peeper shakers, is a fun hobby for someone who wants to collect a variety of subjects, yet have all of the items they collect, somehow uniform. They are small enough that they lend themselves well to filling a china cabinet with, or maybe to decorate a shelf. They are fun to look at, they can be used, and most are priced in a range that you do not have to be a wealthy person in order to accumulate a collection you can be proud of. I do not have a huge collection of them, but I have collected a few through the years. My favorite was actually an antique set, which I broke last year. It was of a grandmotherly figure reading a book, while sitting in a rocking chair. The rocking chair was the pepper, and she was the salt. I am in search of a replacement for it, and someday hope to find one. Every so often, I will browse the listings at Ebay, and have made it a habit to check the local Goodwill and St.Vincent DePaul store in hopes that someday I will stumble across the same set to replace the one I so carelessly dropped!
There are so many salt and pepper sets available in both new and older versions, that you could collect salt and peppers across a range of interests of whatever strikes your fancy, or maybe along the lines of another collectible. For example, if you are captivated by anything Christmas, you could search out shakers that represent this holiday to help you decorate the kitchen during the days around it. A quick look through Ebay uncovered 215 figural salt and pepper sets in a Christmas theme. Everything from tiny elf shakers, to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, read and green tree ornaments (I have that set, thanks to my sister-in-law just this past holiday season!), snowmen, even tiny trees.
A search for figural salt and pepper sets alone, not broken down into a theme, provided a stunning number of hits, over 11,000! If animals are something you adore, consider the following sets that I found just in the first five pages of this huge listing:
Kissing Elephants, Fitz and Floyd Elephants, Kissing Monkeys, Kissing Bears, Crocodiles, Frogs, Pewter Birds, Glass Birds, Swans, Penguins, Bluebirds, Kissing Birds, Hummingbirds, Alligators, Hens, Owls, Cows, Bulldogs, Cats, Pigs, Mallard Ducks, and a Bear and a Moose set, Giraffes, Hippos, Zebras, and a set of Horses.
I also saw cartoon character sets, a Paint Palette and Brush, Teapots, Teacups, children in various designs, a Bowling Ball and Pin, and much, much more. Chances are that if you can think of something, it has been made into a salt and pepper set. Want a set of fish? I have seen several, one even a trout that looks as if it is diving underwater, with the head the salt shaker and the tail the pepper shaker. Are you a fan of Blue Willow Pottery? Ebay had a salt and pepper set in a Blue Willow pattern for a buy me price of less than five dollars! Star Wars, Betty Boop, Laurel and Hardy, and numerous sets representative of the Disney theme, including Mickey and Minnie sets, Tigger and Roo, Piglet and Pooh, Goofy and a Teepee, Minnie's Shoe and her famous Bow, and two of the Seven Dwarfs were among more of the one's that I browsed.
Besides Ebay, you can purchase new sets from just about any store that sells items for your dining needs, or gifts and collectibles. Antique stores and shops that sell collectibles are also possible outlets. Visit any small tourist shop too, and chances are you will find a small section devoted solely to salt and pepper sets in figures related to whatever tourist attractions are in the area. I drive through Upper Michigan will reward you with miniature salt and pepper sets in lighthouse designs and the Mackinaw bridge. Drive down through Door County in Wisconsin, and chances are you will come home with a set that looks like an apple tree and a bushel of apples. Collecting salt and pepper sets can be a fun and rewarding hobby for the person looking to build a collection that can be as diversified or as specific as they want their collection to be.
Collecting salt shakers and peeper shakers, is a fun hobby for someone who wants to collect a variety of subjects, yet have all of the items they collect, somehow uniform. They are small enough that they lend themselves well to filling a china cabinet with, or maybe to decorate a shelf. They are fun to look at, they can be used, and most are priced in a range that you do not have to be a wealthy person in order to accumulate a collection you can be proud of. I do not have a huge collection of them, but I have collected a few through the years. My favorite was actually an antique set, which I broke last year. It was of a grandmotherly figure reading a book, while sitting in a rocking chair. The rocking chair was the pepper, and she was the salt. I am in search of a replacement for it, and someday hope to find one. Every so often, I will browse the listings at Ebay, and have made it a habit to check the local Goodwill and St.Vincent DePaul store in hopes that someday I will stumble across the same set to replace the one I so carelessly dropped!
There are so many salt and pepper sets available in both new and older versions, that you could collect salt and peppers across a range of interests of whatever strikes your fancy, or maybe along the lines of another collectible. For example, if you are captivated by anything Christmas, you could search out shakers that represent this holiday to help you decorate the kitchen during the days around it. A quick look through Ebay uncovered 215 figural salt and pepper sets in a Christmas theme. Everything from tiny elf shakers, to Mr. and Mrs. Claus, read and green tree ornaments (I have that set, thanks to my sister-in-law just this past holiday season!), snowmen, even tiny trees.
A search for figural salt and pepper sets alone, not broken down into a theme, provided a stunning number of hits, over 11,000! If animals are something you adore, consider the following sets that I found just in the first five pages of this huge listing:
Kissing Elephants, Fitz and Floyd Elephants, Kissing Monkeys, Kissing Bears, Crocodiles, Frogs, Pewter Birds, Glass Birds, Swans, Penguins, Bluebirds, Kissing Birds, Hummingbirds, Alligators, Hens, Owls, Cows, Bulldogs, Cats, Pigs, Mallard Ducks, and a Bear and a Moose set, Giraffes, Hippos, Zebras, and a set of Horses.
I also saw cartoon character sets, a Paint Palette and Brush, Teapots, Teacups, children in various designs, a Bowling Ball and Pin, and much, much more. Chances are that if you can think of something, it has been made into a salt and pepper set. Want a set of fish? I have seen several, one even a trout that looks as if it is diving underwater, with the head the salt shaker and the tail the pepper shaker. Are you a fan of Blue Willow Pottery? Ebay had a salt and pepper set in a Blue Willow pattern for a buy me price of less than five dollars! Star Wars, Betty Boop, Laurel and Hardy, and numerous sets representative of the Disney theme, including Mickey and Minnie sets, Tigger and Roo, Piglet and Pooh, Goofy and a Teepee, Minnie's Shoe and her famous Bow, and two of the Seven Dwarfs were among more of the one's that I browsed.
Besides Ebay, you can purchase new sets from just about any store that sells items for your dining needs, or gifts and collectibles. Antique stores and shops that sell collectibles are also possible outlets. Visit any small tourist shop too, and chances are you will find a small section devoted solely to salt and pepper sets in figures related to whatever tourist attractions are in the area. I drive through Upper Michigan will reward you with miniature salt and pepper sets in lighthouse designs and the Mackinaw bridge. Drive down through Door County in Wisconsin, and chances are you will come home with a set that looks like an apple tree and a bushel of apples. Collecting salt and pepper sets can be a fun and rewarding hobby for the person looking to build a collection that can be as diversified or as specific as they want their collection to be.
What is Junking?
By Christina VanGinkel
Junking has been around for as long as people have been piling their garbage on the curb. What is it you might ask? It is the art of finding treasure among another person's trash! I first became intrigued with this long before I knew what it was, or that it had a name, and that other people actually took this quite seriously. There are individuals who junk on occasion, and others who do it all the time. Some do it for the simple thrill of finding a treasure, others do it for the reselling factor, and others might do it to save themselves the cost of buying something they need.
Our local town, and several other small towns around us, actually holds a Junk Day twice a year, once in the spring, and again in the fall. On these specified dates, you can set out your junk curbside, and at the same time, you can go around to other homes and see what others might have put out. The requirements are only that you not put out your garbage, just junk. There is a difference. Garbage is day-to-day refuse that people accumulate from simply existing. Old newspapers, coffee grounds, package wrappings, etc. Junk is that chess set you have held onto for the past year even though you are missing half of the pieces, or that old typewriter that you cannot find cartridges for. It can also be a three-legged table, an old door or window that you replaced, or a box of old paperbacks that you have been meaning to donate somewhere. Someone once commented to me that it was a bit like a garage sale, without any money exchanging hands. It is somewhat similar, but most times, the person placing the things curbside do not have enough to sell to hold a rummage sale, or do not want the bother of having to sit for the length of a sale.
People Junk for all different reasons. College kids are notorious for furnishing apartments this way, young mothers have found much-needed strollers, and some antique hunters hope to find the discovery of a lifetime from someone who truly thinks if an item is old, it is junk! Other people Junk for the monetary gain. They look forward to the routine their community has for placing out this type of trash, and they go out in search of items that can be cleaned up, or repaired with little effort, and then resold at second hand shops, or more common today, through outlets such as Ebay.
You do need to be aware though if the community you are in allows junking. Some places frown upon it, and will even ticket you for it. Others, such as the community we live, will set aside days throughout the year specifically for the activity. I know people by us who actually set aside space in their garage so that when they come across something that they feel others might have a use for, they have a spot to store it until the next official junk day. If you do not know, what the laws are, call up your local city hall and inquire. If they are unaware of what such an activity is, tell them to do a search for it on the Internet, as there are several sites dedicated just to the art of Junking. They are filled with tips and suggestions one everything from the laws that might be involved, to how to transport larger items that you might find, and the laws of ownership. For example, if you spot an old piano that you want, but are in a small car; just because you spotted it first, does not make it yours. Leave someone with it while you go to retrieve a vehicle large enough to haul it, or better yet, go prepared in a truck or with a trailer right from the start. Otherwise, chances are it will be gone by the time you come back. Sticking a note on it will most likely not deter someone else from retrieving it, and if it is a day where people have purposely set out such items, most homeowners will gladly let it go to the first person who is willing to load it up. Be safe too when Junking. Only pick up items that are obviously for the taking. Avoid Junking in neighborhoods that you would not normally be in, in the first place, and most of all, have fun!
Junking has been around for as long as people have been piling their garbage on the curb. What is it you might ask? It is the art of finding treasure among another person's trash! I first became intrigued with this long before I knew what it was, or that it had a name, and that other people actually took this quite seriously. There are individuals who junk on occasion, and others who do it all the time. Some do it for the simple thrill of finding a treasure, others do it for the reselling factor, and others might do it to save themselves the cost of buying something they need.
Our local town, and several other small towns around us, actually holds a Junk Day twice a year, once in the spring, and again in the fall. On these specified dates, you can set out your junk curbside, and at the same time, you can go around to other homes and see what others might have put out. The requirements are only that you not put out your garbage, just junk. There is a difference. Garbage is day-to-day refuse that people accumulate from simply existing. Old newspapers, coffee grounds, package wrappings, etc. Junk is that chess set you have held onto for the past year even though you are missing half of the pieces, or that old typewriter that you cannot find cartridges for. It can also be a three-legged table, an old door or window that you replaced, or a box of old paperbacks that you have been meaning to donate somewhere. Someone once commented to me that it was a bit like a garage sale, without any money exchanging hands. It is somewhat similar, but most times, the person placing the things curbside do not have enough to sell to hold a rummage sale, or do not want the bother of having to sit for the length of a sale.
People Junk for all different reasons. College kids are notorious for furnishing apartments this way, young mothers have found much-needed strollers, and some antique hunters hope to find the discovery of a lifetime from someone who truly thinks if an item is old, it is junk! Other people Junk for the monetary gain. They look forward to the routine their community has for placing out this type of trash, and they go out in search of items that can be cleaned up, or repaired with little effort, and then resold at second hand shops, or more common today, through outlets such as Ebay.
You do need to be aware though if the community you are in allows junking. Some places frown upon it, and will even ticket you for it. Others, such as the community we live, will set aside days throughout the year specifically for the activity. I know people by us who actually set aside space in their garage so that when they come across something that they feel others might have a use for, they have a spot to store it until the next official junk day. If you do not know, what the laws are, call up your local city hall and inquire. If they are unaware of what such an activity is, tell them to do a search for it on the Internet, as there are several sites dedicated just to the art of Junking. They are filled with tips and suggestions one everything from the laws that might be involved, to how to transport larger items that you might find, and the laws of ownership. For example, if you spot an old piano that you want, but are in a small car; just because you spotted it first, does not make it yours. Leave someone with it while you go to retrieve a vehicle large enough to haul it, or better yet, go prepared in a truck or with a trailer right from the start. Otherwise, chances are it will be gone by the time you come back. Sticking a note on it will most likely not deter someone else from retrieving it, and if it is a day where people have purposely set out such items, most homeowners will gladly let it go to the first person who is willing to load it up. Be safe too when Junking. Only pick up items that are obviously for the taking. Avoid Junking in neighborhoods that you would not normally be in, in the first place, and most of all, have fun!
Her Hobby is her Dog!
By Christina VanGinkel
I sent several family members and friends an email a few days ago, asking them if they would share with me their hobbies. I told them about the blogs I enjoy writing for, and that one of them is on the subject of hobbies. I have quite a varied interest in subjects myself, but I asked them if they would be willing to share some of the things they do to keep occupied in their down time. Essentially, if they had any hobbies that they would like to share with me, so I could in turn share them with you.
Well, one friend emailed this morning, and at the bottom of her letter, she pasted a link to her dog's web page! I had thought I had seen it all until this. She has no children, and I knew she did not participate in any hobbies such as quilting, crocheting, or beadwork, but I had no idea that she spent so much time with her dog! Her dog is a small black spaniel breed, and she and he visit nursing homes all around the area that she lives in out west. They have been through obedience training together, and he has been taught not to jump on people, not to lick people (This can spread germs in a nursing home or hospital situation), etc. Together, they try to make other peoples daily existence just a bit brighter.
Her devotion to her pooch does not stop there though. She also has taken enough photos of him to create several scrapbooks, and continues to take photographs, updating her website continuously. On the website itself, are links to see dogs that are up for adoption, in need of just as devoted a home as her dog has successfully found. Also, links to veterinarians who donate their time to answer questions, and links to forums where dog owners and lovers can meet up to discuss a wide range of dog related subjects with other devoted owners. There is even a classified listing where dog owners can find their pet pooch everything from a groomer to Chiropractic care, pet insurance, to their very own Psychic, training and agility centers, daycare and dog walkers, massage and yoga for their pets, and much, much more. There is even a link to search out hotels and other types of accommodations that are accepting of pets traveling with their owners. This can be a major obstacle for those individuals who do not want to travel without their furry friends.
This same friend has in the past made Halloween costumes for her dog, and then dressed him in them to compete against other dogs at the local mall for prizes. She also dresses him up, for more innocuous occasions such as going to the store, or the beach. Her dog is her hobby! The best part of it all is that she has a blast participating in all of these things with him. It gives her an outlet that she says she really needs at the end of the day and on the weekends. Her husband is not quite as active in the doggy activities as she is, but he does agree that their pooch is special. They also have a few friends who show their dogs, competitively, but they said that is not something they have chosen to do, beyond the pet costume competition at Halloween. Some dogs like the discipline required at shows, but they think it would be too much pressure and not enough fun, both for their pooch and themselves, but that it is another form of activity that some people might want to consider.
When I asked her if she had any suggestions for other people who might be interested in participating in some of these activities with their dog, she immediately responded that they should be sure that their dog does not mind. Not all dogs like to be dressed for example, and some dogs might be too shy and introverted to be taken around to public places as a therapy dog. She said knowing if your dog is a good candidate is not that hard to figure out, and that if your dog is a prime subject, that they can have just as much fun as you.
I sent several family members and friends an email a few days ago, asking them if they would share with me their hobbies. I told them about the blogs I enjoy writing for, and that one of them is on the subject of hobbies. I have quite a varied interest in subjects myself, but I asked them if they would be willing to share some of the things they do to keep occupied in their down time. Essentially, if they had any hobbies that they would like to share with me, so I could in turn share them with you.
Well, one friend emailed this morning, and at the bottom of her letter, she pasted a link to her dog's web page! I had thought I had seen it all until this. She has no children, and I knew she did not participate in any hobbies such as quilting, crocheting, or beadwork, but I had no idea that she spent so much time with her dog! Her dog is a small black spaniel breed, and she and he visit nursing homes all around the area that she lives in out west. They have been through obedience training together, and he has been taught not to jump on people, not to lick people (This can spread germs in a nursing home or hospital situation), etc. Together, they try to make other peoples daily existence just a bit brighter.
Her devotion to her pooch does not stop there though. She also has taken enough photos of him to create several scrapbooks, and continues to take photographs, updating her website continuously. On the website itself, are links to see dogs that are up for adoption, in need of just as devoted a home as her dog has successfully found. Also, links to veterinarians who donate their time to answer questions, and links to forums where dog owners and lovers can meet up to discuss a wide range of dog related subjects with other devoted owners. There is even a classified listing where dog owners can find their pet pooch everything from a groomer to Chiropractic care, pet insurance, to their very own Psychic, training and agility centers, daycare and dog walkers, massage and yoga for their pets, and much, much more. There is even a link to search out hotels and other types of accommodations that are accepting of pets traveling with their owners. This can be a major obstacle for those individuals who do not want to travel without their furry friends.
This same friend has in the past made Halloween costumes for her dog, and then dressed him in them to compete against other dogs at the local mall for prizes. She also dresses him up, for more innocuous occasions such as going to the store, or the beach. Her dog is her hobby! The best part of it all is that she has a blast participating in all of these things with him. It gives her an outlet that she says she really needs at the end of the day and on the weekends. Her husband is not quite as active in the doggy activities as she is, but he does agree that their pooch is special. They also have a few friends who show their dogs, competitively, but they said that is not something they have chosen to do, beyond the pet costume competition at Halloween. Some dogs like the discipline required at shows, but they think it would be too much pressure and not enough fun, both for their pooch and themselves, but that it is another form of activity that some people might want to consider.
When I asked her if she had any suggestions for other people who might be interested in participating in some of these activities with their dog, she immediately responded that they should be sure that their dog does not mind. Not all dogs like to be dressed for example, and some dogs might be too shy and introverted to be taken around to public places as a therapy dog. She said knowing if your dog is a good candidate is not that hard to figure out, and that if your dog is a prime subject, that they can have just as much fun as you.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Sign up for that Class!
By Christina VanGinkel
How often have you thought to yourself that you should take a class on poetry, sign up for a workshop on some new photography technique, take a cooking course, or one on some other interest? But then, someone makes a comment that it would be a waste of your time, or they question you on what you think you might gain by signing up for such a course, so you decided to pass? These comments can come from co-workers, friends, relatives, even a spouse. First, do not let anyone influence you when it comes to something like this. Too often, it seems that when somebody does something a bit outside his or her normal routine, someone has a comment about it, and just as often, that comment is negative. The person making the comment may not even mean it the way it sounds, you are just doing something outside of your routine, and it surprises them. Sometimes the comments are as negative as they sound, and those are truly the ones you need to learn to disregard. For example, a few years ago, I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I was thinking of taking a computer class on PowerPoint. After asking me what the program was, she then asked me quite negatively; why in the world I would need to know something like that, as I worked from home. I ignored her, took the class, had a blast, and not long after, was able to help my son put together a presentation for a class he was in. Did I really need to take the class? Who knows when it might come in handy, but most importantly, I did enjoy it, and I learned a lot of confidence in maneuvering my way around a computer program that was outside of my knowledge, and that in turn lent itself to helping me teach myself the graphics program CorelDraw, which I do use for work.
Classes and workshops of just about any nature are actually a great way to find out if your interest in a subject is a real one, or just a passing fancy. I love classes and workshops for this very reason. You can usually sign up through local colleges, or even stores that cater to supplies for the very subject that is being taught, for a fee that will not leave your budget busted. Often, it is even cheaper to try something this way, over buying all of the supplies yourself.
Some friends of mine took a class on cake decorating. One person has gone on to buy quite a few supplies of her own, and has decorated quite a few cakes since the class for family and friends. The other friend said that while she enjoyed the class, she learned that she would much rather order her cakes from a store, leaving the decorating to someone else, finding it more work than fun. Before the class came along, she had purchased a book on cake decorating, and a starter kit, and was all set to order more supplies, sure that this was something she really wanted to do as often as it was called for. Once she was halfway through the six-week course, she was almost sure, that though she found it interesting, it was not a hobby she wanted to participate in beyond what she already had done. She liked her teacher, had fun in the class itself, learned a few things along the way, but in the end decided to leave cake decorating to somebody else. When I asked her if she would recommend the class to someone else (usually a defining point in whether it was a good class), she replied strongly that she would. It was a fun class, and she was quite happy that she had taken it herself. Plus, she said she had ended up finding out about a watercolor class that was being offered that was not listed on the schedule she had, and had signed up for that!
If you care considering a new hobby, or wondering if something is right for you, see if there is a class available on the subject. It can be both eye opening, informative, and fun, even if you decide against the hobby itself as something you want to do more of.
How often have you thought to yourself that you should take a class on poetry, sign up for a workshop on some new photography technique, take a cooking course, or one on some other interest? But then, someone makes a comment that it would be a waste of your time, or they question you on what you think you might gain by signing up for such a course, so you decided to pass? These comments can come from co-workers, friends, relatives, even a spouse. First, do not let anyone influence you when it comes to something like this. Too often, it seems that when somebody does something a bit outside his or her normal routine, someone has a comment about it, and just as often, that comment is negative. The person making the comment may not even mean it the way it sounds, you are just doing something outside of your routine, and it surprises them. Sometimes the comments are as negative as they sound, and those are truly the ones you need to learn to disregard. For example, a few years ago, I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I was thinking of taking a computer class on PowerPoint. After asking me what the program was, she then asked me quite negatively; why in the world I would need to know something like that, as I worked from home. I ignored her, took the class, had a blast, and not long after, was able to help my son put together a presentation for a class he was in. Did I really need to take the class? Who knows when it might come in handy, but most importantly, I did enjoy it, and I learned a lot of confidence in maneuvering my way around a computer program that was outside of my knowledge, and that in turn lent itself to helping me teach myself the graphics program CorelDraw, which I do use for work.
Classes and workshops of just about any nature are actually a great way to find out if your interest in a subject is a real one, or just a passing fancy. I love classes and workshops for this very reason. You can usually sign up through local colleges, or even stores that cater to supplies for the very subject that is being taught, for a fee that will not leave your budget busted. Often, it is even cheaper to try something this way, over buying all of the supplies yourself.
Some friends of mine took a class on cake decorating. One person has gone on to buy quite a few supplies of her own, and has decorated quite a few cakes since the class for family and friends. The other friend said that while she enjoyed the class, she learned that she would much rather order her cakes from a store, leaving the decorating to someone else, finding it more work than fun. Before the class came along, she had purchased a book on cake decorating, and a starter kit, and was all set to order more supplies, sure that this was something she really wanted to do as often as it was called for. Once she was halfway through the six-week course, she was almost sure, that though she found it interesting, it was not a hobby she wanted to participate in beyond what she already had done. She liked her teacher, had fun in the class itself, learned a few things along the way, but in the end decided to leave cake decorating to somebody else. When I asked her if she would recommend the class to someone else (usually a defining point in whether it was a good class), she replied strongly that she would. It was a fun class, and she was quite happy that she had taken it herself. Plus, she said she had ended up finding out about a watercolor class that was being offered that was not listed on the schedule she had, and had signed up for that!
If you care considering a new hobby, or wondering if something is right for you, see if there is a class available on the subject. It can be both eye opening, informative, and fun, even if you decide against the hobby itself as something you want to do more of.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Digital Cameras, Kids, and Summer Projects
By Christina VanGinkel
I was asked to come up with a class for this summer, which would combine a nature walk with kids, and a finished project when the class was done, something that they could actually hold, take home, and use. The classes are part of a summer project put together the past few years by an organization wanting to keep the local youth occupied. The person overseeing the classes has said that in years past, the projects were ok, but nothing substantial that she felt as if the kids would have a real lasting memory of having learned something. This was not a lot of information to go on, but I said I would mull the idea over for a few days and get back to her when (and if!) I had a plan. The class itself would be held in three sessions, over an extended one-week period, she added, so if the project, whatever it was going to be, needed time to 'cure', maybe if we used clay, or something like that, there would be available time. The first class would be held on a Saturday afternoon, with the second class Wednesday evening, and the final class on the following Saturday, the same time as the first class.
I am not a 'clay' type person, per se, and even though I have a friend who is, I have never really delved into that field at all, always leaving it to her. I disregarded the idea of anything with beads, even though I temporarily thought of making dream catchers. That would be more of a single class deal. I could think of a lot of projects not to do, but none that I could. Then it hit me, and I knew what I was going to do with the outdoors, kids, a finished project, my digital camera, and journals!
The first day of the class, we would take our planned hike. They with their journals in hand, hopefully donated by a local organization, or otherwise I figured a standard notebook would suffice. I would want to stiffen up the covers for them, if we used notebooks, but as long as I could get a couple of cardboard boxes to cut apart, that would not be that difficult. They would each need a couple of good sketching pencils too, but when a local Dollar store had went out of business last year, I had picked up several packs of sketching pencils, so those I could donate. I would take along my digital camera.
With camera in hand, I would photograph local fauna and flora, and they would make notes in their journals about the subjects. They would be encouraged to point out what they each wanted photographed. I also planned to take one photo of the whole group of kids. The notes would not be anything technical, more thoughts about what they liked or did not like about the subjects. After the hike, when they headed home, I would download all of the photographs and create a mosaic of them, to be printed in a size that they could apply the mosaic to the cover of their journals. I would also make a single print of each photograph and put them up on a bulletin board for the kids to use as models to sketch from. On Wednesday evening, they could work on assembling the journals, gluing the covers on, and adding any sketches, they would like. I would also provide each of them with a copy of the group photo for them to end their journals with. On the following Saturday, the last day of the class, I think it would be fitting to have each of the kids read one notation from their journal (you can never give kids too much experience at talking in a group format!) out loud, and have an open session where they could ask questions about the items they included in their journals. If necessary, they could also do any final additions needed on their sketches if they wanted.
I still need to run this idea by the person putting the classes together, but in the meanwhile, I am constantly amazed at what my digital camera can be used to do. Thanks to being able to review in an instant, any snapshots I have taken, I can be assured that even a project such as this can be pulled off with little fuss.
I was asked to come up with a class for this summer, which would combine a nature walk with kids, and a finished project when the class was done, something that they could actually hold, take home, and use. The classes are part of a summer project put together the past few years by an organization wanting to keep the local youth occupied. The person overseeing the classes has said that in years past, the projects were ok, but nothing substantial that she felt as if the kids would have a real lasting memory of having learned something. This was not a lot of information to go on, but I said I would mull the idea over for a few days and get back to her when (and if!) I had a plan. The class itself would be held in three sessions, over an extended one-week period, she added, so if the project, whatever it was going to be, needed time to 'cure', maybe if we used clay, or something like that, there would be available time. The first class would be held on a Saturday afternoon, with the second class Wednesday evening, and the final class on the following Saturday, the same time as the first class.
I am not a 'clay' type person, per se, and even though I have a friend who is, I have never really delved into that field at all, always leaving it to her. I disregarded the idea of anything with beads, even though I temporarily thought of making dream catchers. That would be more of a single class deal. I could think of a lot of projects not to do, but none that I could. Then it hit me, and I knew what I was going to do with the outdoors, kids, a finished project, my digital camera, and journals!
The first day of the class, we would take our planned hike. They with their journals in hand, hopefully donated by a local organization, or otherwise I figured a standard notebook would suffice. I would want to stiffen up the covers for them, if we used notebooks, but as long as I could get a couple of cardboard boxes to cut apart, that would not be that difficult. They would each need a couple of good sketching pencils too, but when a local Dollar store had went out of business last year, I had picked up several packs of sketching pencils, so those I could donate. I would take along my digital camera.
With camera in hand, I would photograph local fauna and flora, and they would make notes in their journals about the subjects. They would be encouraged to point out what they each wanted photographed. I also planned to take one photo of the whole group of kids. The notes would not be anything technical, more thoughts about what they liked or did not like about the subjects. After the hike, when they headed home, I would download all of the photographs and create a mosaic of them, to be printed in a size that they could apply the mosaic to the cover of their journals. I would also make a single print of each photograph and put them up on a bulletin board for the kids to use as models to sketch from. On Wednesday evening, they could work on assembling the journals, gluing the covers on, and adding any sketches, they would like. I would also provide each of them with a copy of the group photo for them to end their journals with. On the following Saturday, the last day of the class, I think it would be fitting to have each of the kids read one notation from their journal (you can never give kids too much experience at talking in a group format!) out loud, and have an open session where they could ask questions about the items they included in their journals. If necessary, they could also do any final additions needed on their sketches if they wanted.
I still need to run this idea by the person putting the classes together, but in the meanwhile, I am constantly amazed at what my digital camera can be used to do. Thanks to being able to review in an instant, any snapshots I have taken, I can be assured that even a project such as this can be pulled off with little fuss.
Building a Model 1/25 '67 Mustang GT Fastback
By Christina VanGinkel
Model building is a hobby that is attractive to both kids and adults. Oftentimes though, when kids are first attracted to it, they do not yet have the dexterity to work on many of the intricately detailed models that are so eye-catching. My own son was probably about six years old the first time he asked me to buy him a model. It was a
1/25 '67 Mustang GT Fastback. While I am unsure of the exact details of that model as that was over seven years ago, my son recently came across another one that he swears is the exact same one. He bought this one. This one has a recommended age of ten and up, and in truth, at ten years of age, it would have been difficult to accomplish without a lot of adult supervision. He is thirteen, accomplished at building models, and even though it is listed as only a level two, he wants to get it because he is so sure it is the same one, which he attempted as his first go at building any models so many years ago.
The body pieces are grey molded, requiring painting, though the bumpers, valve covers, air cleaner, shifter, and mirrors are all chromed. It came with a detailed stock interior, and the hood opens to reveal a detailed 289 c.i.d. engine. To this day, any toy or model vehicle he is attracted to, be it a model or a hot wheels, has to have access to the engine. You need to be able to either open the hood, or have the engine exposed. For him, it is definitely all about the engine! This model also comes with treaded Firestone tires, and chrome 5-spoke wheels. It has a detailed chassis, separate frame and floor pan, and waterslide decals allowing you to choose to have your vehicle detailed in white, black, or red GT stripes. It also came with separate roof vents, and body side scoops.
Whatever happened to the model from when he was seven? We bought it, and a ton of other supplies, including paint, sandpaper, modeling cement, a basic model building kit, some sort of finishing kit (I think it had more paint in it mostly),and more. I know we bought many more things than he needed to build that first model, but I had no clue as to what was required, as neither my husband nor I had ever built a model in our whole life. He worked on that model for weeks, eventually becoming frustrated, and he packed it all away. When I asked him what ever came of it, he said he thinks he still ahs it packed away. I will have to look for it.
That first frustrating go at building a model did not deter him as some might think. I know it was not long after, and he was asking us for another one. He eventually finished that one, and it is up on his shelf to this day. It is of a Piper Cub airplane. He chose it after listening to me talk about the plane that my father owned in the sixties. We had pictures of it, and an oil painting in color that my brother had done. He used those as guidelines, and painted the model to look exactly like the plane my father owned.
That was the only plane he ever did though, the remainder of them have been cars, mostly classics from the fifties, and a few from the forties. Those cars were chosen for various reasons, but mainly because his uncle happened to be restoring the same vehicles in real time. His love of cars ahs progressed from building the models, to the real thing like my brother, and he is flying out to Texas in just a few weeks to visit his uncle and get his first lesson on welding.
Building models was for him a great way to learn how basic pieces can come together to build something grand. It was also a way for him to experience failure, and realize that it is not the end of the world, heck; it is not even the end of whatever it is you are doing.
Building models can be just that, building models, but do not be surprised if your child comes away from the task with a love of building other things too. It can be an addictive hobby. It is a lot of fun! Buy your child a model and let them experience the same accomplishment that many have before them, and many will in the future.
Model building is a hobby that is attractive to both kids and adults. Oftentimes though, when kids are first attracted to it, they do not yet have the dexterity to work on many of the intricately detailed models that are so eye-catching. My own son was probably about six years old the first time he asked me to buy him a model. It was a
1/25 '67 Mustang GT Fastback. While I am unsure of the exact details of that model as that was over seven years ago, my son recently came across another one that he swears is the exact same one. He bought this one. This one has a recommended age of ten and up, and in truth, at ten years of age, it would have been difficult to accomplish without a lot of adult supervision. He is thirteen, accomplished at building models, and even though it is listed as only a level two, he wants to get it because he is so sure it is the same one, which he attempted as his first go at building any models so many years ago.
The body pieces are grey molded, requiring painting, though the bumpers, valve covers, air cleaner, shifter, and mirrors are all chromed. It came with a detailed stock interior, and the hood opens to reveal a detailed 289 c.i.d. engine. To this day, any toy or model vehicle he is attracted to, be it a model or a hot wheels, has to have access to the engine. You need to be able to either open the hood, or have the engine exposed. For him, it is definitely all about the engine! This model also comes with treaded Firestone tires, and chrome 5-spoke wheels. It has a detailed chassis, separate frame and floor pan, and waterslide decals allowing you to choose to have your vehicle detailed in white, black, or red GT stripes. It also came with separate roof vents, and body side scoops.
Whatever happened to the model from when he was seven? We bought it, and a ton of other supplies, including paint, sandpaper, modeling cement, a basic model building kit, some sort of finishing kit (I think it had more paint in it mostly),and more. I know we bought many more things than he needed to build that first model, but I had no clue as to what was required, as neither my husband nor I had ever built a model in our whole life. He worked on that model for weeks, eventually becoming frustrated, and he packed it all away. When I asked him what ever came of it, he said he thinks he still ahs it packed away. I will have to look for it.
That first frustrating go at building a model did not deter him as some might think. I know it was not long after, and he was asking us for another one. He eventually finished that one, and it is up on his shelf to this day. It is of a Piper Cub airplane. He chose it after listening to me talk about the plane that my father owned in the sixties. We had pictures of it, and an oil painting in color that my brother had done. He used those as guidelines, and painted the model to look exactly like the plane my father owned.
That was the only plane he ever did though, the remainder of them have been cars, mostly classics from the fifties, and a few from the forties. Those cars were chosen for various reasons, but mainly because his uncle happened to be restoring the same vehicles in real time. His love of cars ahs progressed from building the models, to the real thing like my brother, and he is flying out to Texas in just a few weeks to visit his uncle and get his first lesson on welding.
Building models was for him a great way to learn how basic pieces can come together to build something grand. It was also a way for him to experience failure, and realize that it is not the end of the world, heck; it is not even the end of whatever it is you are doing.
Building models can be just that, building models, but do not be surprised if your child comes away from the task with a love of building other things too. It can be an addictive hobby. It is a lot of fun! Buy your child a model and let them experience the same accomplishment that many have before them, and many will in the future.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Scrapbook Podcasts
By Christina VanGinkel
Almost everyone has heard of Podcasts. If you have not, then you are probably in a minority. What was new to me though was that when I thought of what a Podcast was, I automatically thought of some rebel locked away in a basement, making a Podcast for some other rebels to listen to on their iPod. After all, a Podcast is essentially audio content that you can download from the web to listen to on your iPod. They are often put together by people who feel that they have something to say, but cannot get it out there in some other form, such as a through a typical radio program, a television show, or even a printed version, such as a book.
However, with many things Internet, when something takes off, even those people who at first might have disregarded some aspect of it, such as the Podcasts, may suddenly realize what a great way they could be to get their word out about subjects that might actually be very popular with the mainstream public. Then, they might even go so far as to combine the 'new' technology with some other part of the web that has in fact been round for some time. This is exactly what I thought of when I came across a site that was a combination of Podcasts with streaming videos to promote a person's tutorials on, what else, Scrapbooking!
If someone has already done this, I am not sure, but this site is just fantastic. The person who has pulled together this innovative idea has even set up a link with iTunes, where you can sign up for the free lessons to make sure that you do not miss a single lesson as they are released. Just click right on the link from their site, aptly named scrapbookingpodcast, or you can find it at iTunes via a search through their Podcasts. The site currently has seven lessons, including:
Use Sizzix machine to emboss with brass stencil (on the iTunes site, this Podcast is listed as Emboss without the light box)
Valentines Day layout with embossed paper
Make your own flower embellishment
Create a Moving Wheel
Pop-ups in a layout
Watercolor Pencils
Create Rubber stamps
I decided to download the Podcast on creating your own rubber stamps, simply because I could not imagine how this would be done. The presentation was professional, and walked through a very detailed production of how to accomplish this very task. I was so excited while watching the video, that I immediately restarted it once it was done to make a list of the materials I would need to do this on my own. She even made points such as marking the containers that you use with the chemicals as for chemical use only. Having written instructions for craft projects my self; I know how thorough one has to be when explaining situations such as this, and she did a wonderful job! The voice of the narrator is also pleasing, which is a big issue with many people listening to Podcasts of any kind, even these versions that coincide with video. If the narrator is hard to listen to, it is a definite detraction. So taken with this Podcast, I went back and downloaded the rest of them.
The next one I viewed was the one on using pop-ups in a layout. As a somewhat new owner of a Wishblade cutter, I am always interested in anything that might point me in the direction to more actively use my cutter in my crafts. Again, the step-by-step instructions were clear and precise, and I could hardly wait for the Podcast and video to end, to try to make my own 'I' and various other parts. I would note that some viewers of this particular Podcast might think this one is a bit on the easy side, but with instructions such as these, keeping it basic can be the best way for the viewers to take in the details, and then turn them around and use them in as elaborate ways as they can think up. I highly recommend these Podcasts for anyone looking for some new input into their favorite hobby of scrapbooking.
Almost everyone has heard of Podcasts. If you have not, then you are probably in a minority. What was new to me though was that when I thought of what a Podcast was, I automatically thought of some rebel locked away in a basement, making a Podcast for some other rebels to listen to on their iPod. After all, a Podcast is essentially audio content that you can download from the web to listen to on your iPod. They are often put together by people who feel that they have something to say, but cannot get it out there in some other form, such as a through a typical radio program, a television show, or even a printed version, such as a book.
However, with many things Internet, when something takes off, even those people who at first might have disregarded some aspect of it, such as the Podcasts, may suddenly realize what a great way they could be to get their word out about subjects that might actually be very popular with the mainstream public. Then, they might even go so far as to combine the 'new' technology with some other part of the web that has in fact been round for some time. This is exactly what I thought of when I came across a site that was a combination of Podcasts with streaming videos to promote a person's tutorials on, what else, Scrapbooking!
If someone has already done this, I am not sure, but this site is just fantastic. The person who has pulled together this innovative idea has even set up a link with iTunes, where you can sign up for the free lessons to make sure that you do not miss a single lesson as they are released. Just click right on the link from their site, aptly named scrapbookingpodcast, or you can find it at iTunes via a search through their Podcasts. The site currently has seven lessons, including:
Use Sizzix machine to emboss with brass stencil (on the iTunes site, this Podcast is listed as Emboss without the light box)
Valentines Day layout with embossed paper
Make your own flower embellishment
Create a Moving Wheel
Pop-ups in a layout
Watercolor Pencils
Create Rubber stamps
I decided to download the Podcast on creating your own rubber stamps, simply because I could not imagine how this would be done. The presentation was professional, and walked through a very detailed production of how to accomplish this very task. I was so excited while watching the video, that I immediately restarted it once it was done to make a list of the materials I would need to do this on my own. She even made points such as marking the containers that you use with the chemicals as for chemical use only. Having written instructions for craft projects my self; I know how thorough one has to be when explaining situations such as this, and she did a wonderful job! The voice of the narrator is also pleasing, which is a big issue with many people listening to Podcasts of any kind, even these versions that coincide with video. If the narrator is hard to listen to, it is a definite detraction. So taken with this Podcast, I went back and downloaded the rest of them.
The next one I viewed was the one on using pop-ups in a layout. As a somewhat new owner of a Wishblade cutter, I am always interested in anything that might point me in the direction to more actively use my cutter in my crafts. Again, the step-by-step instructions were clear and precise, and I could hardly wait for the Podcast and video to end, to try to make my own 'I' and various other parts. I would note that some viewers of this particular Podcast might think this one is a bit on the easy side, but with instructions such as these, keeping it basic can be the best way for the viewers to take in the details, and then turn them around and use them in as elaborate ways as they can think up. I highly recommend these Podcasts for anyone looking for some new input into their favorite hobby of scrapbooking.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Sculptural Needle Felting with Wool Roving
By Christina VanGinkel
A good friend made me the most adorable black bear figure, perched atop of a jack pine branch and base that she constructed herself, both the figure and the base. The figure is made from a technique referred to as needle felting. I would personally call it sculpting, or sculpture in felt. I have also heard it referred to as punch felting. Whatever it is called by; my new little black bear friend is adorable! He is sitting in a place of honor on top of our entertainment center, out of reach of my young grandson, who believes that the little fellow should go home with him! A note here is that these are not toys, and while an older child might love to have a needle-felted critter, they would probably not hold up as a plaything!
My friend that was sweet enough to give me one of the first bears that she ever made, also told me that what attracted her to the craft in the first place, was that it was something she could do while sitting in the living room in the evening with her husband, while they watched a show or two together on the television. She had been browsing online and stumbled across a site that sold finished bears and figures, and was intrigued by their detailed designs. She found a person who sold instructions, along with the required needles, on Ebay. She already had a supply of the felt, or wool roving, which was needed to make the actual figures (she had purchased it for another very different craft having nothing to do with sculpting). In addition, the farm that she had purchased the roving from was still in business. She went on to say that finding wool roving online was not difficult at all though, and that there were several places that sold it alone, or in kit form with instructions and needles to try this craft for anybody wanting to have a go at it.
Bears are not the only things being made with this technique either. I have seen some of the most fiendishly fun elves and funky looking dolls created with any craft, done up in punched wool. Other animals, such as lions and tigers, elephants, hippos, even giraffes, all can be made from wool, specialized needles, and the determination to make them.
I was intrigued by my new little bear enough that I decided to check out, if this were a craft that I would like to learn, and if so, to make some friends for him myself. What I learned was that this craft is currently going through what I would call a craze, growing in popularity in part because it is somewhat easy to learn. Most people who participate in it say they learned to basics within a day. The sculpture part itself though, the ability to give your figures personality, will take a bit longer to learn, and having a bit of an artistic side to your crafting would only be a major plus to learning the finer details of felting.
The basic tools that you will need are the needles, washed and carded wool, or wool roving (available in a variety of colors), and detailed instructions. There are numerous starter kits available with all of these components bundled together to get you started and keep your initial investment low until you know whether this is a hobby for you. Once you have determined that it is, you can also consider additional embellishments to make your designs as unique as you want. For example, my bear is sporting moveable arms and legs, and glass beaded eyes, which give him even more character than you can imagine!
If you have been searching for a hobby that is fun to do, provides you with a finished product that can be used for gift giving, maybe even selling for profit, and requires minimal space to participate in it, then needle felting, or sculpting with felt may be just what you have been searching for all this time. Check online for supplies and instructions, and before you know it, you might have your own little felted friend, that you can tell everyone you made all on your own.
A good friend made me the most adorable black bear figure, perched atop of a jack pine branch and base that she constructed herself, both the figure and the base. The figure is made from a technique referred to as needle felting. I would personally call it sculpting, or sculpture in felt. I have also heard it referred to as punch felting. Whatever it is called by; my new little black bear friend is adorable! He is sitting in a place of honor on top of our entertainment center, out of reach of my young grandson, who believes that the little fellow should go home with him! A note here is that these are not toys, and while an older child might love to have a needle-felted critter, they would probably not hold up as a plaything!
My friend that was sweet enough to give me one of the first bears that she ever made, also told me that what attracted her to the craft in the first place, was that it was something she could do while sitting in the living room in the evening with her husband, while they watched a show or two together on the television. She had been browsing online and stumbled across a site that sold finished bears and figures, and was intrigued by their detailed designs. She found a person who sold instructions, along with the required needles, on Ebay. She already had a supply of the felt, or wool roving, which was needed to make the actual figures (she had purchased it for another very different craft having nothing to do with sculpting). In addition, the farm that she had purchased the roving from was still in business. She went on to say that finding wool roving online was not difficult at all though, and that there were several places that sold it alone, or in kit form with instructions and needles to try this craft for anybody wanting to have a go at it.
Bears are not the only things being made with this technique either. I have seen some of the most fiendishly fun elves and funky looking dolls created with any craft, done up in punched wool. Other animals, such as lions and tigers, elephants, hippos, even giraffes, all can be made from wool, specialized needles, and the determination to make them.
I was intrigued by my new little bear enough that I decided to check out, if this were a craft that I would like to learn, and if so, to make some friends for him myself. What I learned was that this craft is currently going through what I would call a craze, growing in popularity in part because it is somewhat easy to learn. Most people who participate in it say they learned to basics within a day. The sculpture part itself though, the ability to give your figures personality, will take a bit longer to learn, and having a bit of an artistic side to your crafting would only be a major plus to learning the finer details of felting.
The basic tools that you will need are the needles, washed and carded wool, or wool roving (available in a variety of colors), and detailed instructions. There are numerous starter kits available with all of these components bundled together to get you started and keep your initial investment low until you know whether this is a hobby for you. Once you have determined that it is, you can also consider additional embellishments to make your designs as unique as you want. For example, my bear is sporting moveable arms and legs, and glass beaded eyes, which give him even more character than you can imagine!
If you have been searching for a hobby that is fun to do, provides you with a finished product that can be used for gift giving, maybe even selling for profit, and requires minimal space to participate in it, then needle felting, or sculpting with felt may be just what you have been searching for all this time. Check online for supplies and instructions, and before you know it, you might have your own little felted friend, that you can tell everyone you made all on your own.
Scrap Tutor
By Christina VanGinkel
As avid a scrapbook enthusiast as I am, I feel that I am so lacking in knowledge about certain techniques and tools, that If there were a class available in the area in which I live, I would gladly sign up for it. However, no classes exist. Someone online mentioned to me that I should contact my local LSS, to see if they offered any. After I had to ask what in the heck an LSS was, I felt a bit silly, as she meant for me to ask my 'Local Scrapbook Store' if they offered any classes or sessions on techniques or particular products. It did make sense then on why I did not know what an LSS was, as we have no local scrapbook stores anywhere close to our home. The closest store that I have been able to track down is nearly fifty miles away, and it is small, and limited on what they carry in stock, though they are always willing to order. The only problem with that is that you have to make another trip back to the store to pick up your order. With gasoline prices, what they are lately, I would much rather get what I am looking for all in one trip, and she is too small to offer an classes anyways, as she said she would not have the physical room to do so when I did ask. The next closest stores that are of any size and that would offer classes are in the one hundred mile range!
Still, the idea of a class or two was intriguing, especially if it opened doors as far as what to do with so many of the supplies I have acquired. Every time I see something new online, or read about a technique or see a product used in a magazine, if I have some semblance of an idea that I might be able to use it in a layout, I often will buy it. The problem with that though is, once I get it, I often do not have a clue what to do with it, beyond the initial project in which I saw it used.
Then I heard about a product called the Scrap Tutor. Two sets of DVD's, each set include twenty-eight lessons on a variety of scrapbook techniques. Set one features video instruction along with printable step-by-step lessons, along with over one hundred layouts by artists that are tops in the scrapbook world. Volume One: Techniques, includes tips, ideas, instruction and more on fourteen techniques that are commonly applied to scrapbook layouts, including lessons on Chalking , Color Blocking, Dry Embossing, Embellishments, Eyelets, Heat Embossing, Mats and Frames, Mosaic, Paper Tearing, Quilling, Shabby Chic, Stitching, Template Lettering, and Wire. Volume Two: Elements and Design, includes seven different elements that are used repeatedly in layouts, including Borders, Journaling Design, Photo Corners, Pockets, Shakers, Tags, and Title Designs, along with seven design concepts, including Color Coordinating, Composition, Focal Point, Negative Space, Photo Cropping, Photo Editing, and Typeface.
So encompassing are all of these lessons, that even if you do have a LSS, you might be interested in picking up these lessons. They run right on your Windows based computer, and the second set, Volume Two: Elements and Design, will run on either a Windows based computer or a Mac. They will allow you to learn at your leisure, and to go back and review them whenever you feel like a refresher course is in order.
These fantastic DVD's are currently available as a two-disk set for $29.99, just a bit over one dollar a lesson when you think about it. So not only are they great for those who do not have a store or other means of taking a class, but even for those who might have a store that offers classes close by, but want a more affordable way to take a class, or who might already have such a busy schedule, that fitting one more task into an already overloaded agenda is just not going to work. These are so convenient you can take a class whenever your time allows, and not have to try to match it to someone else's schedule!
Other reasons that you might like these over a traditional class are if you are more of a visual person, and having the lessons laid out in a way that allows you a front row seat each time you view them, are much more to your liking than just being one more person in an already overcrowded class.
As avid a scrapbook enthusiast as I am, I feel that I am so lacking in knowledge about certain techniques and tools, that If there were a class available in the area in which I live, I would gladly sign up for it. However, no classes exist. Someone online mentioned to me that I should contact my local LSS, to see if they offered any. After I had to ask what in the heck an LSS was, I felt a bit silly, as she meant for me to ask my 'Local Scrapbook Store' if they offered any classes or sessions on techniques or particular products. It did make sense then on why I did not know what an LSS was, as we have no local scrapbook stores anywhere close to our home. The closest store that I have been able to track down is nearly fifty miles away, and it is small, and limited on what they carry in stock, though they are always willing to order. The only problem with that is that you have to make another trip back to the store to pick up your order. With gasoline prices, what they are lately, I would much rather get what I am looking for all in one trip, and she is too small to offer an classes anyways, as she said she would not have the physical room to do so when I did ask. The next closest stores that are of any size and that would offer classes are in the one hundred mile range!
Still, the idea of a class or two was intriguing, especially if it opened doors as far as what to do with so many of the supplies I have acquired. Every time I see something new online, or read about a technique or see a product used in a magazine, if I have some semblance of an idea that I might be able to use it in a layout, I often will buy it. The problem with that though is, once I get it, I often do not have a clue what to do with it, beyond the initial project in which I saw it used.
Then I heard about a product called the Scrap Tutor. Two sets of DVD's, each set include twenty-eight lessons on a variety of scrapbook techniques. Set one features video instruction along with printable step-by-step lessons, along with over one hundred layouts by artists that are tops in the scrapbook world. Volume One: Techniques, includes tips, ideas, instruction and more on fourteen techniques that are commonly applied to scrapbook layouts, including lessons on Chalking , Color Blocking, Dry Embossing, Embellishments, Eyelets, Heat Embossing, Mats and Frames, Mosaic, Paper Tearing, Quilling, Shabby Chic, Stitching, Template Lettering, and Wire. Volume Two: Elements and Design, includes seven different elements that are used repeatedly in layouts, including Borders, Journaling Design, Photo Corners, Pockets, Shakers, Tags, and Title Designs, along with seven design concepts, including Color Coordinating, Composition, Focal Point, Negative Space, Photo Cropping, Photo Editing, and Typeface.
So encompassing are all of these lessons, that even if you do have a LSS, you might be interested in picking up these lessons. They run right on your Windows based computer, and the second set, Volume Two: Elements and Design, will run on either a Windows based computer or a Mac. They will allow you to learn at your leisure, and to go back and review them whenever you feel like a refresher course is in order.
These fantastic DVD's are currently available as a two-disk set for $29.99, just a bit over one dollar a lesson when you think about it. So not only are they great for those who do not have a store or other means of taking a class, but even for those who might have a store that offers classes close by, but want a more affordable way to take a class, or who might already have such a busy schedule, that fitting one more task into an already overloaded agenda is just not going to work. These are so convenient you can take a class whenever your time allows, and not have to try to match it to someone else's schedule!
Other reasons that you might like these over a traditional class are if you are more of a visual person, and having the lessons laid out in a way that allows you a front row seat each time you view them, are much more to your liking than just being one more person in an already overcrowded class.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
What is your Hobby?
By Christina VanGinkel
Do you suddenly feel like everybody you know, friends, family, co-workers, all have a hobby, but you do not? Maybe you have not got a clue what you want to do beyond the fact that you do want to do something besides the nothing that you take part in now. Or, maybe you have narrowed it down a bit, such as you love all the papers that all your friends use in their scrapbooks, and would love to make something with the paper, but 'not' a scrapbook.
Ask yourself a few questions to help define you define if you already have a hobby that you just have not taken the time to define, or if you really need to try something new. Did you have a favorite pastime, and if so, why did you stop participating in it? Was it money issues, or did you get bored with it, or was there possibly some other reason you quit? If it was a money issue, is there some way now for you to work it into your budget now, or to participate in it in a manner that is not so costly? Have you always dreamed of trying something, but did not know how to go about it, figuring you would at the least need to take a class, or find a mentor to give you basic instructions? With the Internet so widely available, maybe now is the time to search out a class or mentor! Have you seemingly tried it all, and just never felt the drive to claim a hobby as your own? Maybe trying new things is your hobby! Only you can define whether a hobby is worthy of it being your 'thing' to do. When you do discover something that you enjoy, consider sharing your newfound joy by introducing it to someone else who is in search of the hobby of his or her dreams, but just cannot seem to find something to call their own.
To help get you on the road to a happy, hobby-filled existence, I have gathered a list of magazines for you to peruse, in hopes that one of them might be just the thing to point you in the direction of a hobby you will love. Some of them are what may be referred to as typical hobby magazines, while others might be a bit of a stretch, but keep in mind that hobbies come in all different shapes and sizes.
If you love animals, try:
Aquarium Fish, Bird Talk, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Modern Dog, Horse Illustrated, Ferrets, Bird Watcher's Digest, Reptiles, Bird Talk, Cat Fancy
If you have a love of all things paper, check out these:
Card Maker, Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, Paper Crafts, Paper Works, Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbook Answers (I highly recommend the version with the included disc!)
Think wood might be more your style, then consider these:
Woodworker's Journal, Woodworking for Women, Wood Digest, Wood Carving Illustrated, Wood, American Woodworker
Some people are inspired by the outdoors, but have not got a clue what to do:
Outdoor Photography, Hobby Farms, Hooked on the Outdoors, Rock & Gem, Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Golf Digest
Magazines devoted to a wide range of various handcrafts:
Annie's Plastic Canvas, Bead Style, Creative knitting, Crochet World, Crochet, Hooked on Crochet, Fiber Arts, Jewelry Crafts, McCall's Quilting, Rug Hooking, Threads, Tole World
Are you the more daring kind? Then consider these:
Shark Diver, SPEEDWORLD Magazine, Skateboarder, Street Rodder, Paintball 2 Xtremes, Kit Planes, Ocean Navigator, Flight Journal, Flying, FREESKIER, Whitetail Fanatic
If quiet pursuits are defiantly more your calling card, then give some of these a once over:
American Songwriter, Classic Toy Trains, Coinage, Coins, Comic Buyer's Guide, Crossword Puzzles, Fine Scale Modeler, Official Variety and Puzzle Word Games, Paint Works, Search n Circle, Swap Meet, World Coin News, Watercolor Magic
Looking over these, I realize that they are just a small representation of what hobbies exist. There are so many choices for people to delve through, from skydiving to tending a Koi garden, riding horses, to shopping, cooking, joining a club that reenacts historical adventures, and many other things. The basic definition of a hobby is a task that helps you relax, that you take pleasure in, but is something other than your normal, daily activities. We should all have the pleasure!
Do you suddenly feel like everybody you know, friends, family, co-workers, all have a hobby, but you do not? Maybe you have not got a clue what you want to do beyond the fact that you do want to do something besides the nothing that you take part in now. Or, maybe you have narrowed it down a bit, such as you love all the papers that all your friends use in their scrapbooks, and would love to make something with the paper, but 'not' a scrapbook.
Ask yourself a few questions to help define you define if you already have a hobby that you just have not taken the time to define, or if you really need to try something new. Did you have a favorite pastime, and if so, why did you stop participating in it? Was it money issues, or did you get bored with it, or was there possibly some other reason you quit? If it was a money issue, is there some way now for you to work it into your budget now, or to participate in it in a manner that is not so costly? Have you always dreamed of trying something, but did not know how to go about it, figuring you would at the least need to take a class, or find a mentor to give you basic instructions? With the Internet so widely available, maybe now is the time to search out a class or mentor! Have you seemingly tried it all, and just never felt the drive to claim a hobby as your own? Maybe trying new things is your hobby! Only you can define whether a hobby is worthy of it being your 'thing' to do. When you do discover something that you enjoy, consider sharing your newfound joy by introducing it to someone else who is in search of the hobby of his or her dreams, but just cannot seem to find something to call their own.
To help get you on the road to a happy, hobby-filled existence, I have gathered a list of magazines for you to peruse, in hopes that one of them might be just the thing to point you in the direction of a hobby you will love. Some of them are what may be referred to as typical hobby magazines, while others might be a bit of a stretch, but keep in mind that hobbies come in all different shapes and sizes.
If you love animals, try:
Aquarium Fish, Bird Talk, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Modern Dog, Horse Illustrated, Ferrets, Bird Watcher's Digest, Reptiles, Bird Talk, Cat Fancy
If you have a love of all things paper, check out these:
Card Maker, Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, Paper Crafts, Paper Works, Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbook Answers (I highly recommend the version with the included disc!)
Think wood might be more your style, then consider these:
Woodworker's Journal, Woodworking for Women, Wood Digest, Wood Carving Illustrated, Wood, American Woodworker
Some people are inspired by the outdoors, but have not got a clue what to do:
Outdoor Photography, Hobby Farms, Hooked on the Outdoors, Rock & Gem, Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Golf Digest
Magazines devoted to a wide range of various handcrafts:
Annie's Plastic Canvas, Bead Style, Creative knitting, Crochet World, Crochet, Hooked on Crochet, Fiber Arts, Jewelry Crafts, McCall's Quilting, Rug Hooking, Threads, Tole World
Are you the more daring kind? Then consider these:
Shark Diver, SPEEDWORLD Magazine, Skateboarder, Street Rodder, Paintball 2 Xtremes, Kit Planes, Ocean Navigator, Flight Journal, Flying, FREESKIER, Whitetail Fanatic
If quiet pursuits are defiantly more your calling card, then give some of these a once over:
American Songwriter, Classic Toy Trains, Coinage, Coins, Comic Buyer's Guide, Crossword Puzzles, Fine Scale Modeler, Official Variety and Puzzle Word Games, Paint Works, Search n Circle, Swap Meet, World Coin News, Watercolor Magic
Looking over these, I realize that they are just a small representation of what hobbies exist. There are so many choices for people to delve through, from skydiving to tending a Koi garden, riding horses, to shopping, cooking, joining a club that reenacts historical adventures, and many other things. The basic definition of a hobby is a task that helps you relax, that you take pleasure in, but is something other than your normal, daily activities. We should all have the pleasure!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Extend your Genealogy Hobby: Plan a Family History Celebration!
Do you cringe when you think of attending a family reunion? Having to socialize with people we don't know and perhaps haven't seen for twenty years doesn't appeal to a lot of people. Perhaps you want to get your children interested in their heritage but would opt for a more fun and easy option. You can do this by hosting a family history party.
From foods to games to decorations, the theme is your ancestors, the countries from which they came, and their personal chronologies. Many children aren't interested in genealogy until they find something "exciting" like a king or a general in their bloodlines. It's great if finding something special fascinates them, but the key is to have kids longing to find out more about all their ancestors, even the ones who might have been "average." After all, these people make up who you are!
Start by doing thorough research. Which of your ancestors immigrated to America? (Or, if you have Native American blood, research the tribe, homeland and time period). Plan a meal around the countries of origin. If you have German ancestry, make sausage, strudel, spaetzle, etc. If there is some Jewish ancestry, potato pancakes, challah bread or anything made with matzo will be a great choice.
If you're inviting relatives, have them choose a dish to bring. If one wants to bring the Irish soda bread and another is longing to try out their corned beef and cabbage recipe, (if you are representing Ireland) this will work out great. The only rule of thumb is to be sure two people are not bringing the same dish. Try to explain to your guests what country each dish is from, how that country ties into your family history, and what the dish consists of. Depending on the personality of any children involved, they may or may not be thrilled about trying new ethnic foods.
Another idea is to dress up in the clothing worn in your native country. Bavarian suspenders, a Moroccan fez and a Spanish gypsy dress are only some suggestions. This is another area where you or a guest may wish to do some research. There is no need to have everyone's clothing reflect a common theme. As long as the outfit is connected with a country that pertains to your family history, it should be allowed.
If you're setting a more formal table and not doing a buffet, you might want to write each guest's name on a card or napkin. A neat twist would be to write their name how it is written in the "old country." If your ancestry is German, Mary Ann would be Anna Maria, John Jacob would be Johann Jakob, etc.
You might also want to pass around cards with phrases from your ancestral homeland. When all the ethnic dishes have been served, you could have each guest stand and recite a word or phrase before eating. Just make sure that kids get full exposure to the festivities so they will be immersed in the culture of their ancestors. Just because kids don't always seem interested doesn't mean they're not.
Time for games! Again, it depends on the country you are focusing on. Find a list of activities. One idea is to give small children pieces of paper, show them a picture of their ancestral country's flag, and the children can draw and color the flags. You could play ethnic games like setting up a temporary "May Pole." (This is a huge attraction in most Bavarian cities). The trick is to keep guests happy and interested. Finding fun ways to appreciate family history will make your party a success.
You may wish to end the party by reading journals or accounts of your ancestors' trials in America (provided you have access to either). If you have old photos, show them. Explain to guests (especially kids) how each person is related to them. If they have anything in common with the person, like shape of nose, personality, etc., tell them. Finding a link between themselves and an ancestor sometimes keeps kids coming back to learn more. Show a slide show if applicable. Talk about the "olden days" and what times were like. A successful party always contains three things:
(1) Great food
(2) Terrific entertainment
(3) Guests always willing to come to another of your parties.
From foods to games to decorations, the theme is your ancestors, the countries from which they came, and their personal chronologies. Many children aren't interested in genealogy until they find something "exciting" like a king or a general in their bloodlines. It's great if finding something special fascinates them, but the key is to have kids longing to find out more about all their ancestors, even the ones who might have been "average." After all, these people make up who you are!
Start by doing thorough research. Which of your ancestors immigrated to America? (Or, if you have Native American blood, research the tribe, homeland and time period). Plan a meal around the countries of origin. If you have German ancestry, make sausage, strudel, spaetzle, etc. If there is some Jewish ancestry, potato pancakes, challah bread or anything made with matzo will be a great choice.
If you're inviting relatives, have them choose a dish to bring. If one wants to bring the Irish soda bread and another is longing to try out their corned beef and cabbage recipe, (if you are representing Ireland) this will work out great. The only rule of thumb is to be sure two people are not bringing the same dish. Try to explain to your guests what country each dish is from, how that country ties into your family history, and what the dish consists of. Depending on the personality of any children involved, they may or may not be thrilled about trying new ethnic foods.
Another idea is to dress up in the clothing worn in your native country. Bavarian suspenders, a Moroccan fez and a Spanish gypsy dress are only some suggestions. This is another area where you or a guest may wish to do some research. There is no need to have everyone's clothing reflect a common theme. As long as the outfit is connected with a country that pertains to your family history, it should be allowed.
If you're setting a more formal table and not doing a buffet, you might want to write each guest's name on a card or napkin. A neat twist would be to write their name how it is written in the "old country." If your ancestry is German, Mary Ann would be Anna Maria, John Jacob would be Johann Jakob, etc.
You might also want to pass around cards with phrases from your ancestral homeland. When all the ethnic dishes have been served, you could have each guest stand and recite a word or phrase before eating. Just make sure that kids get full exposure to the festivities so they will be immersed in the culture of their ancestors. Just because kids don't always seem interested doesn't mean they're not.
Time for games! Again, it depends on the country you are focusing on. Find a list of activities. One idea is to give small children pieces of paper, show them a picture of their ancestral country's flag, and the children can draw and color the flags. You could play ethnic games like setting up a temporary "May Pole." (This is a huge attraction in most Bavarian cities). The trick is to keep guests happy and interested. Finding fun ways to appreciate family history will make your party a success.
You may wish to end the party by reading journals or accounts of your ancestors' trials in America (provided you have access to either). If you have old photos, show them. Explain to guests (especially kids) how each person is related to them. If they have anything in common with the person, like shape of nose, personality, etc., tell them. Finding a link between themselves and an ancestor sometimes keeps kids coming back to learn more. Show a slide show if applicable. Talk about the "olden days" and what times were like. A successful party always contains three things:
(1) Great food
(2) Terrific entertainment
(3) Guests always willing to come to another of your parties.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Making Melt and Pour Soap
By Christina VanGinkel
I made my first batch of glycerin-based melt and pour soap several years ago when my brother was having difficulties finding a soap that did not bother his skin, still lathered up well, and left the skin soft and moisturized. Someone had mentioned to him that he should try a glycerin-based soap and the rest was history as they say.
I not only made a batch of the soap, I have since made several more, and even taught a local youth group through a hands-on class how to make it, with each child taking home a bar to use that holiday season as a gift.
What is so fun about making glycerin melt and pour over other traditional soap making methods, is that it is so quick and easy; you probably already have most everything needed to make it except for the melt and pour blocks and a scent oil if you are wanting to make your batch scented in your kitchen.
I will walk you through making a batch of glycerin-based melt and pour soap, but take the following warning to heart. If you make one batch of this soap, you will most likely want to make another batch before the first one even dries!
To start, purchase one block of unscented melt and pour glycerin, manufactured for making soap. It comes in clear blocks, white blocks, and tinted blocks. I would recommend you use the clear for your first batch. Depending on the size of block you buy, you will want to cut it down to about one quarter of a pound. When you are more comfortable with the melting process, you can try larger batches. You will also need something to use to melt the soap in a microwave, preferably a glass bowl. You can use plastic, but keep in mind that you will never be able to use the container for anything else. Once you melt the soap in a plastic container, the soap seems to permanently adhere to the plastic. You will also need a spoon for stirring it as it melts, a wooden long handled spoon works well, but again, keep in mind that once you stir soap with it, but you will not want to use it for any food preparation again. Finally, you will need a mold to pour it in for it to cool. You can purchase soap molds, but my favorite mold is actually a plastic tube that potato chips come in, washed, and dried. You will also need a pair of heavy-duty scissors if using this last recommendation to cut the container apart once the soap has set up.
If you want, you can also add a colorant made for soap, scented oil, again, of a grade that is safe for cosmetic uses. I prefer to go all natural, keeping the soap base clear except for possibly adding ingredients such as dried goat's milk (a natural emollient) or kelp (I would not recommend this on a first batch though, as it has a tendency to clump up, so it must be first stirred and mixed well with a bit of water before adding). For fu, you can add a small plastic toy, such as a rubber duck to the mold as you pour it. Just make sure that you have enough melted to cover it, and to let the soap cool thirty to sixty seconds before adding.
Take your soap base, place it in the glass bowl, and microwave. Melt the soap base only until the center looks like a bit of hard residue is still present. It should finish melting as you stir it. Do not boil the glycerin base, as this will severely affect how well the soap lathers. Take it out of the microwave and stir it until it is completely melted. If you are going to add any scent, colors, or ingredients such as goat's milk, stir it in now. Pour it into your choice of mold and let cool until it is hardened. This can take several hours, but for best results, let it harden overnight at least. If you want to add a small rubber toy, pour a small amount of the mix into the mold, and let it, set up for about thirty seconds or so. Keep stirring the remaining mixture, and if necessary, put back into the microwave for a few seconds, but avoid this if possible. Place the toy down into the mixture you already poured into the mold, and then pour the remaining mixture over the toy until it is covered.
When the soap is set, remove it from the mold. If you use a traditional plastic soap mold, invert and push out with care to not damage the design. If you use a potato chip sleeve or some other small plastic container, you may have to cut it away to release the soap. I also cut mine into thinner slices when using the chip container with an old-fashioned potato slicer. If you do cut yours, do so with care, as it can slip easily. A wire cheese slicer is also good for slicing soap. Small Tupperware containers that come in various shapes make good molds; again keep in mind that once this soap is exposed to anything plastic, it is almost impossible to remove the smell of the soap though, so only use items with it that you have no desire to ever use in food preparation again.
Once you are comfortable with the melting process, you can experiment with adding even more ingredients, making some specialized bars of soap that are fun to use and give as gifts.
I made my first batch of glycerin-based melt and pour soap several years ago when my brother was having difficulties finding a soap that did not bother his skin, still lathered up well, and left the skin soft and moisturized. Someone had mentioned to him that he should try a glycerin-based soap and the rest was history as they say.
I not only made a batch of the soap, I have since made several more, and even taught a local youth group through a hands-on class how to make it, with each child taking home a bar to use that holiday season as a gift.
What is so fun about making glycerin melt and pour over other traditional soap making methods, is that it is so quick and easy; you probably already have most everything needed to make it except for the melt and pour blocks and a scent oil if you are wanting to make your batch scented in your kitchen.
I will walk you through making a batch of glycerin-based melt and pour soap, but take the following warning to heart. If you make one batch of this soap, you will most likely want to make another batch before the first one even dries!
To start, purchase one block of unscented melt and pour glycerin, manufactured for making soap. It comes in clear blocks, white blocks, and tinted blocks. I would recommend you use the clear for your first batch. Depending on the size of block you buy, you will want to cut it down to about one quarter of a pound. When you are more comfortable with the melting process, you can try larger batches. You will also need something to use to melt the soap in a microwave, preferably a glass bowl. You can use plastic, but keep in mind that you will never be able to use the container for anything else. Once you melt the soap in a plastic container, the soap seems to permanently adhere to the plastic. You will also need a spoon for stirring it as it melts, a wooden long handled spoon works well, but again, keep in mind that once you stir soap with it, but you will not want to use it for any food preparation again. Finally, you will need a mold to pour it in for it to cool. You can purchase soap molds, but my favorite mold is actually a plastic tube that potato chips come in, washed, and dried. You will also need a pair of heavy-duty scissors if using this last recommendation to cut the container apart once the soap has set up.
If you want, you can also add a colorant made for soap, scented oil, again, of a grade that is safe for cosmetic uses. I prefer to go all natural, keeping the soap base clear except for possibly adding ingredients such as dried goat's milk (a natural emollient) or kelp (I would not recommend this on a first batch though, as it has a tendency to clump up, so it must be first stirred and mixed well with a bit of water before adding). For fu, you can add a small plastic toy, such as a rubber duck to the mold as you pour it. Just make sure that you have enough melted to cover it, and to let the soap cool thirty to sixty seconds before adding.
Take your soap base, place it in the glass bowl, and microwave. Melt the soap base only until the center looks like a bit of hard residue is still present. It should finish melting as you stir it. Do not boil the glycerin base, as this will severely affect how well the soap lathers. Take it out of the microwave and stir it until it is completely melted. If you are going to add any scent, colors, or ingredients such as goat's milk, stir it in now. Pour it into your choice of mold and let cool until it is hardened. This can take several hours, but for best results, let it harden overnight at least. If you want to add a small rubber toy, pour a small amount of the mix into the mold, and let it, set up for about thirty seconds or so. Keep stirring the remaining mixture, and if necessary, put back into the microwave for a few seconds, but avoid this if possible. Place the toy down into the mixture you already poured into the mold, and then pour the remaining mixture over the toy until it is covered.
When the soap is set, remove it from the mold. If you use a traditional plastic soap mold, invert and push out with care to not damage the design. If you use a potato chip sleeve or some other small plastic container, you may have to cut it away to release the soap. I also cut mine into thinner slices when using the chip container with an old-fashioned potato slicer. If you do cut yours, do so with care, as it can slip easily. A wire cheese slicer is also good for slicing soap. Small Tupperware containers that come in various shapes make good molds; again keep in mind that once this soap is exposed to anything plastic, it is almost impossible to remove the smell of the soap though, so only use items with it that you have no desire to ever use in food preparation again.
Once you are comfortable with the melting process, you can experiment with adding even more ingredients, making some specialized bars of soap that are fun to use and give as gifts.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
How to Display your Collection
By Christina VanGinkel
Hobbies come in all different forms, but collecting is a hobby that many people participate in. People collect bugs, cards, plates, rocks, coins, stamps, dolls, and every other imaginable item you could theoretically think of. How to display a collection can be an issue if someone has collected something to an extreme, and suddenly realize that they need to figure out a way to not only store, but also display all or parts of it. Depending on what exactly it is that they collect, there will be different ways someone might choose to display the collection itself. On a shelf, in a clear box, in a frame hung on a wall, or maybe even under glass as part of a table in your central living space. Part of the choice will be determined by what makes up the collection, and partly by your own personal preference on how you wish to display it. Here we will explore a few of the different ways you might choose to display your collection, and a few that you might never have even thought of.
Shelves
A shelf is a good way to display a collection that you wish to share with others. Sizes are varied, so finding one to meet your requirements should not be difficult, and there are even specialized shelves for displaying some particular types of collectibles, such as shelves with plate rails for displaying collectible plates, and even shelves with holes drilled through them to set autographed baseballs into to keep them from rolling off of a typical shelf. If you want to display your collection on a shelf, but keep it out of the reach of others, consider a shelf that runs along the top of a wall, or over a doorway. If dust is going to be an issue though, or your collection could be damaged if handled or subjected to an overly dry or humid environment, a shelf may not be the best way for you to display your collection.
Boxes
Boxes are available in a variety of styles, from those made to be stored out of sight, to those that are made for keeping your collection out on display. Clear boxes are a great way to put on show a collection of just about any small item that you want to keep covered, but still make available for viewing, such as shells and trinket from your summer at the beach, to keep those happy times right at the forefront of your memories. A collection of postcards might be better stored in a box that is made to help preserve the postcards from further deterioration due to age or the elements, including sunlight, but can still be left out on a table or shelf so it can be easily shared with anyone you choose.
Cases
Cases are somewhat similar to boxes, but are made for display of very specific items. They may be sized to both hold and make available for viewing things such as trading cards, butterflies, or other insects, or something as specific as a collection of spoons. They can be made with a glass top and inserts to hold whatever it is you want to display inside.
Glass Topped Tables
If you have ever come across a glass-topped table that is specifically made for displaying a prized collection, no matter what it is, you will know what a great idea this is to show off your favorites. Custom-built glass topped tables can be made in a variety of depths, so you can display 3D objects. Others can be made with the glass top placed directly over another top so that you can slide photos, prints, or other flat objects between the surfaces for display without having to worry about them becoming damaged or slipping around.
When choosing a way to display a collection, consider where the display will be placed, how much of your collection you want to put on view, and what the costs will be. Displaying your collection is a great way to share it with family, friends, and acquaintances, but the protection of your collection still needs to be your most important considerations, so keep this in mind when choosing the way in which you plan to display your prized collection.
Hobbies come in all different forms, but collecting is a hobby that many people participate in. People collect bugs, cards, plates, rocks, coins, stamps, dolls, and every other imaginable item you could theoretically think of. How to display a collection can be an issue if someone has collected something to an extreme, and suddenly realize that they need to figure out a way to not only store, but also display all or parts of it. Depending on what exactly it is that they collect, there will be different ways someone might choose to display the collection itself. On a shelf, in a clear box, in a frame hung on a wall, or maybe even under glass as part of a table in your central living space. Part of the choice will be determined by what makes up the collection, and partly by your own personal preference on how you wish to display it. Here we will explore a few of the different ways you might choose to display your collection, and a few that you might never have even thought of.
Shelves
A shelf is a good way to display a collection that you wish to share with others. Sizes are varied, so finding one to meet your requirements should not be difficult, and there are even specialized shelves for displaying some particular types of collectibles, such as shelves with plate rails for displaying collectible plates, and even shelves with holes drilled through them to set autographed baseballs into to keep them from rolling off of a typical shelf. If you want to display your collection on a shelf, but keep it out of the reach of others, consider a shelf that runs along the top of a wall, or over a doorway. If dust is going to be an issue though, or your collection could be damaged if handled or subjected to an overly dry or humid environment, a shelf may not be the best way for you to display your collection.
Boxes
Boxes are available in a variety of styles, from those made to be stored out of sight, to those that are made for keeping your collection out on display. Clear boxes are a great way to put on show a collection of just about any small item that you want to keep covered, but still make available for viewing, such as shells and trinket from your summer at the beach, to keep those happy times right at the forefront of your memories. A collection of postcards might be better stored in a box that is made to help preserve the postcards from further deterioration due to age or the elements, including sunlight, but can still be left out on a table or shelf so it can be easily shared with anyone you choose.
Cases
Cases are somewhat similar to boxes, but are made for display of very specific items. They may be sized to both hold and make available for viewing things such as trading cards, butterflies, or other insects, or something as specific as a collection of spoons. They can be made with a glass top and inserts to hold whatever it is you want to display inside.
Glass Topped Tables
If you have ever come across a glass-topped table that is specifically made for displaying a prized collection, no matter what it is, you will know what a great idea this is to show off your favorites. Custom-built glass topped tables can be made in a variety of depths, so you can display 3D objects. Others can be made with the glass top placed directly over another top so that you can slide photos, prints, or other flat objects between the surfaces for display without having to worry about them becoming damaged or slipping around.
When choosing a way to display a collection, consider where the display will be placed, how much of your collection you want to put on view, and what the costs will be. Displaying your collection is a great way to share it with family, friends, and acquaintances, but the protection of your collection still needs to be your most important considerations, so keep this in mind when choosing the way in which you plan to display your prized collection.
Claiming a Room to Scrapbook In
By Christina VanGinkel
The longer I scrapbook, the more I realize that every new house built should have a room dedicated to this hobby. Yes, I know this is unrealistic, and that some people do not even scrapbook, yet any good homebuilder should think ahead to the day when they might sell that house they are building and realize that the next owner might be a scrapbook aficionado and really relish that room set aside just for that purpose!
How about everybody else though, everyone who is already living in a house that was not obviously built around this way of thinking? They will need to be a bit more creative and look for a spot to claim as their very own craft / scrapbook room. The first rule they need to learn is that the space they find may not even be a room, but more likely, a spot carved out of a bigger area. I was fortunate enough to be able to carve just such a spot out of a room that we call 'the spare room'. It is the room that we put everything in, that does not really have any other place to call home. This ranges from books, to toys, to baby clothes that my daughter had no room at her home to store, so it ended up at my house. Overcrowded with not an inch to spare, I cleaned, and tossed, and rearranged until I had the room I needed to place a large table with room for me to spread out my layouts while I create, and be able to walk away from whatever my current project is, shutting the door to hide my disarray from any visitors.
Whenever I think of other spaces that would make ideal scrapbook areas, I always recall the landing at the top of the staircase in the house where I grew up. My parents had a large armoire situated there, that they used to store my father's suits. The armoire itself, situated with a few extra interior organizational aids, along with some additional shelving would have been an ideal spot to use for scrapping, especially with the view overlooking the spiral staircase and the large stained glass window that lighted the area!
Closets are another place that can sometimes be the perfect conversion for a crafting / scrapping spot. Of course, this would mean taking stock of what the closet's current use is, and clearing it out to other closets and storage spots. The nice thing about converting a closet though, if you can spare it from its original use, is that it is truly found space. If the closet in an out of the way spot, in a spare bedroom for example, you could even consider removing the doors, allowing the area to spill out just a bit into the room it is situated in. If you are using a hall closet though, be as innovative as you can be as far as storage inside the closet goes. Be sure that you will have room for your chair when the door is shut, or consider one that is both comfortable and decorative enough for you to place it in the hallway for a decorative touch when you are not actually putting it to use.
An entryway may not seem like a good spot for a craft / scrapbook room, but if that is the only area that you can find, it can work. Be sure to use a desk or other type of storage that will allow you to stow away everything when you are finished though. Because an entryway has another purpose, this means other people will frequent the space and you will want to be sure that whatever you are currently working on will have no chance of being damaged. You will also not want to leave clutter about if this is the first spot moist people will see upon entering your home. While not an ideal spot to set up your supplies, it can be done.
Carving out a bit of room, to dedicate to a hobby that you love so much can be done in just about any sized house if you want to claim the space bad enough. Consider every possibility, no matter how unconventional, and before you know it, you will be happily scrapping away in your very own space.
The longer I scrapbook, the more I realize that every new house built should have a room dedicated to this hobby. Yes, I know this is unrealistic, and that some people do not even scrapbook, yet any good homebuilder should think ahead to the day when they might sell that house they are building and realize that the next owner might be a scrapbook aficionado and really relish that room set aside just for that purpose!
How about everybody else though, everyone who is already living in a house that was not obviously built around this way of thinking? They will need to be a bit more creative and look for a spot to claim as their very own craft / scrapbook room. The first rule they need to learn is that the space they find may not even be a room, but more likely, a spot carved out of a bigger area. I was fortunate enough to be able to carve just such a spot out of a room that we call 'the spare room'. It is the room that we put everything in, that does not really have any other place to call home. This ranges from books, to toys, to baby clothes that my daughter had no room at her home to store, so it ended up at my house. Overcrowded with not an inch to spare, I cleaned, and tossed, and rearranged until I had the room I needed to place a large table with room for me to spread out my layouts while I create, and be able to walk away from whatever my current project is, shutting the door to hide my disarray from any visitors.
Whenever I think of other spaces that would make ideal scrapbook areas, I always recall the landing at the top of the staircase in the house where I grew up. My parents had a large armoire situated there, that they used to store my father's suits. The armoire itself, situated with a few extra interior organizational aids, along with some additional shelving would have been an ideal spot to use for scrapping, especially with the view overlooking the spiral staircase and the large stained glass window that lighted the area!
Closets are another place that can sometimes be the perfect conversion for a crafting / scrapping spot. Of course, this would mean taking stock of what the closet's current use is, and clearing it out to other closets and storage spots. The nice thing about converting a closet though, if you can spare it from its original use, is that it is truly found space. If the closet in an out of the way spot, in a spare bedroom for example, you could even consider removing the doors, allowing the area to spill out just a bit into the room it is situated in. If you are using a hall closet though, be as innovative as you can be as far as storage inside the closet goes. Be sure that you will have room for your chair when the door is shut, or consider one that is both comfortable and decorative enough for you to place it in the hallway for a decorative touch when you are not actually putting it to use.
An entryway may not seem like a good spot for a craft / scrapbook room, but if that is the only area that you can find, it can work. Be sure to use a desk or other type of storage that will allow you to stow away everything when you are finished though. Because an entryway has another purpose, this means other people will frequent the space and you will want to be sure that whatever you are currently working on will have no chance of being damaged. You will also not want to leave clutter about if this is the first spot moist people will see upon entering your home. While not an ideal spot to set up your supplies, it can be done.
Carving out a bit of room, to dedicate to a hobby that you love so much can be done in just about any sized house if you want to claim the space bad enough. Consider every possibility, no matter how unconventional, and before you know it, you will be happily scrapping away in your very own space.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera
By Christina VanGinkel
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera is a good camera for someone who wants to be able to snap a picture without a lot of thinking, and still end up with beautiful results, but at the same time, has a few extras available to increase your options when attempting the ultimate shot. I came to this conclusion when a friend asked me for a recommendation on what camera to buy if she were to choose a new digital to replace her older model 35MM. She wanted something that she could forego the use of film with, but still be able to tweak her setting when she desired. At the same time, she wanted a camera that she did not have to do a whole lot of finagling with if she just wanted to snap a couple quick shots.
In addition, she did not want to have to keep spending money to purchase this lens, or that filter, but if some were available, she would not mind having the choices there if she were to choose to increase her options. Specifically, she wanted help choosing a digital camera that had it all. This camera does have a couple of extra lenses and filters, including the VCL-DH1758 58mm High Grade 1.7X Telephoto Conversion Lens VCL-DH1758, to help make your optical zoom shots more outstanding than you ever imagined possible with a digital, and a VCL-M3358 58mm Close Up Lens VCL-M3358 to make macro shots quick and simple. It also has a couple of extra filters available, including a VF-58CPKS 58mm Polarizing Filter Kit VF-58CPKS, to help intensify colors and maximize contrast. Also available is the VF-58M 58mm Neutral Density Filter Kit VF-58M to help you take the perfect photo is bright sunlight, perfect for beach photos. All of these extras come in their own protective cases, so you do not have to worry about damage from scratches or bangs when trying to fit them into your existing carrying case.
This camera also has a secondary flash available, the HVL-FSL1B Cyber-shot® Slave Flash with Bracket HVL-FSL1B, which will automatically sync with the camera's built in flash, and has controls so that you can control the density of the flash, allowing you to get the perfect shot in even some of the darkest conditions. It also takes into account the camera's red eye function. In addition, it comes with its own bracket, which will make installing it easy, and it comes with its own carrying case and battery, so you will be all set to use it when it arrives.
Not to be done there, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera also has a HVL-RLA Macro Photography Ring Light HVL-RLA available. This is perfect for those times you need extra light when snapping those macro close up photos.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera comes with a 12X optic lens, 5.1 Mega pixel Super HAD TM CCD, 2.5 inch LCD monitor, seven pre set scene modes, including Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, High-Speed Shutter, and Candle, and 0 – 48X Smart Zoom TM Feature. It also has Super Steady Shot® Optical Image Stabilization, Real Imaging Processor TM Technology, Live Histogram Display, 14-Bit DXP A/D Conversion, 3 Area Multi-Point Auto Focus, Manual Exposure Mode, AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator, Selectable Focus Mode, Multi-Pattern Measuring, Pre-Flash Metering, Slow Shutter Noise Reduction, 9 Shot Burst Mode, Multi-Burst Mode, MPEG and Movie VX Standard/Fine Mode with Audio. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera is also PictBridge compatible, which means it will work seamlessly with any PictBridge ready printer. Just plug in the camera directly to the printer via the supplies USB cable, and you can print without having to go through a computer. You simply use the menu that pops right up on the screen of the camera.
If you are in the market for an all around, full featured digital camera that goes a bit beyond the average, then be sure to check out the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera. It has it all, and then some, and at a price less than four hundred dollars, thanks to Sony recently dropping the price on this hot seller. With a price that low for all of the features, if your budget permits you might just want to add the extra lens and filters if they are of interest to you.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera is a good camera for someone who wants to be able to snap a picture without a lot of thinking, and still end up with beautiful results, but at the same time, has a few extras available to increase your options when attempting the ultimate shot. I came to this conclusion when a friend asked me for a recommendation on what camera to buy if she were to choose a new digital to replace her older model 35MM. She wanted something that she could forego the use of film with, but still be able to tweak her setting when she desired. At the same time, she wanted a camera that she did not have to do a whole lot of finagling with if she just wanted to snap a couple quick shots.
In addition, she did not want to have to keep spending money to purchase this lens, or that filter, but if some were available, she would not mind having the choices there if she were to choose to increase her options. Specifically, she wanted help choosing a digital camera that had it all. This camera does have a couple of extra lenses and filters, including the VCL-DH1758 58mm High Grade 1.7X Telephoto Conversion Lens VCL-DH1758, to help make your optical zoom shots more outstanding than you ever imagined possible with a digital, and a VCL-M3358 58mm Close Up Lens VCL-M3358 to make macro shots quick and simple. It also has a couple of extra filters available, including a VF-58CPKS 58mm Polarizing Filter Kit VF-58CPKS, to help intensify colors and maximize contrast. Also available is the VF-58M 58mm Neutral Density Filter Kit VF-58M to help you take the perfect photo is bright sunlight, perfect for beach photos. All of these extras come in their own protective cases, so you do not have to worry about damage from scratches or bangs when trying to fit them into your existing carrying case.
This camera also has a secondary flash available, the HVL-FSL1B Cyber-shot® Slave Flash with Bracket HVL-FSL1B, which will automatically sync with the camera's built in flash, and has controls so that you can control the density of the flash, allowing you to get the perfect shot in even some of the darkest conditions. It also takes into account the camera's red eye function. In addition, it comes with its own bracket, which will make installing it easy, and it comes with its own carrying case and battery, so you will be all set to use it when it arrives.
Not to be done there, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera also has a HVL-RLA Macro Photography Ring Light HVL-RLA available. This is perfect for those times you need extra light when snapping those macro close up photos.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera comes with a 12X optic lens, 5.1 Mega pixel Super HAD TM CCD, 2.5 inch LCD monitor, seven pre set scene modes, including Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Beach, High-Speed Shutter, and Candle, and 0 – 48X Smart Zoom TM Feature. It also has Super Steady Shot® Optical Image Stabilization, Real Imaging Processor TM Technology, Live Histogram Display, 14-Bit DXP A/D Conversion, 3 Area Multi-Point Auto Focus, Manual Exposure Mode, AF (Auto Focus) Illuminator, Selectable Focus Mode, Multi-Pattern Measuring, Pre-Flash Metering, Slow Shutter Noise Reduction, 9 Shot Burst Mode, Multi-Burst Mode, MPEG and Movie VX Standard/Fine Mode with Audio. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera is also PictBridge compatible, which means it will work seamlessly with any PictBridge ready printer. Just plug in the camera directly to the printer via the supplies USB cable, and you can print without having to go through a computer. You simply use the menu that pops right up on the screen of the camera.
If you are in the market for an all around, full featured digital camera that goes a bit beyond the average, then be sure to check out the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 Digital Camera. It has it all, and then some, and at a price less than four hundred dollars, thanks to Sony recently dropping the price on this hot seller. With a price that low for all of the features, if your budget permits you might just want to add the extra lens and filters if they are of interest to you.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Hobbies and Donations
By Christina VanGinkel
Crafting is a great way to relax at the end of a hard day at work, or to make yourself feel as if you are being productive in the evening, instead of just zoning out in front of the television yet one more time. Creating something through a hobby is also a great way to give ourselves the feeling of accomplishment that many of us may lack in other areas of our lives. The problem that some of us have though, is that while we enjoy creating things, and even have fun doing so, we do not always have an outlet to give away what we make, and we could not possibly use everything ourselves. I have assembled a few different places that generally will accept donations of items, whether you have a single item or two to donate, or more.
If you are a crocheter or knitter, several organizations will gladly accept donations of items such as blankets, throws, hat, and mittens, and then distribute them to needy places that they have identified can benefit greatly from the items:
Operation Home Front can be found by doing a search for the name of the organization along with the word 'knit' on any major search engine. They will provide knitters with a pattern to knit helmet liners for our troops who are currently serving in cold climates.
Warm up America accepts completed knitted and crocheted blankets for adults and infants, along with lap throws, in assorted sizes. They also accept a specific size (7 inches by nine inches) knitted or crocheted square, which can then be joined together, to make patchwork blankets. You can choose to donate a single section, a couple of them, or enough to make a completed blanket. This is a great way to donate even when you might not have a lot of extra time, but still love to sit down and work with your yarn whenever you do have a few spare minutes. Volunteers then work together to sew the sections together, and this is also a good project for groups to volunteer to do, that are looking for a way to make a difference to their communities. The completed blankets are then donated to needy individuals at shelters and other outlets.
Afghans for Afghans accepts knitted and crocheted blankets, hats, mittens, socks, and more for the disadvantaged people in the country of Afghanistan.
Most local nursing homes will also gladly accept lap sized blankets for their residents to use when they are up in their wheelchairs, or shawls to wrap up in when they are in the common areas. If a nursing home can get enough donations, they will oftentimes even take full sized blankets to give as a gift to each new resident upon arrival at their new home.
Shelters are always in need of throws and blankets to share with those staying in their facilities, as people often end up there with nothing more than the clothing on their backs. If the shelters are in cold areas of the country, hats and mittens are also widely accepted. Call your local homeless and battered women shelters for information on how to drop off a donation.
If you enjoy knitting or crocheting baby items, hospitals sometimes accept donations of layette items, such as preemie sets. These could include a sweater, booties, cap, and even a blanket. If you live in an area, where there exists an organization to help young mothers and other parents struggling financially, you might be able to find locations that would gladly accept donations of knitted and crocheted baby gear.
If you enjoy making small stuffed animals, or baby blankets, some police departments will accept donations for their officers to keep on hand when they are in the field and they encounter a situation where a young child might be in need of comfort. Toys can be given to toddlers and preschoolers to lighten a difficult situation, and blankets can be used with the same age groups and infants in need of comforting.
Donating your knits and crocheted items is a great way to participate in a hobby you love, and allow you to feel good about what you are doing all at the same time. Donate to one of these places, or some place of your own choosing today!
Crafting is a great way to relax at the end of a hard day at work, or to make yourself feel as if you are being productive in the evening, instead of just zoning out in front of the television yet one more time. Creating something through a hobby is also a great way to give ourselves the feeling of accomplishment that many of us may lack in other areas of our lives. The problem that some of us have though, is that while we enjoy creating things, and even have fun doing so, we do not always have an outlet to give away what we make, and we could not possibly use everything ourselves. I have assembled a few different places that generally will accept donations of items, whether you have a single item or two to donate, or more.
If you are a crocheter or knitter, several organizations will gladly accept donations of items such as blankets, throws, hat, and mittens, and then distribute them to needy places that they have identified can benefit greatly from the items:
Operation Home Front can be found by doing a search for the name of the organization along with the word 'knit' on any major search engine. They will provide knitters with a pattern to knit helmet liners for our troops who are currently serving in cold climates.
Warm up America accepts completed knitted and crocheted blankets for adults and infants, along with lap throws, in assorted sizes. They also accept a specific size (7 inches by nine inches) knitted or crocheted square, which can then be joined together, to make patchwork blankets. You can choose to donate a single section, a couple of them, or enough to make a completed blanket. This is a great way to donate even when you might not have a lot of extra time, but still love to sit down and work with your yarn whenever you do have a few spare minutes. Volunteers then work together to sew the sections together, and this is also a good project for groups to volunteer to do, that are looking for a way to make a difference to their communities. The completed blankets are then donated to needy individuals at shelters and other outlets.
Afghans for Afghans accepts knitted and crocheted blankets, hats, mittens, socks, and more for the disadvantaged people in the country of Afghanistan.
Most local nursing homes will also gladly accept lap sized blankets for their residents to use when they are up in their wheelchairs, or shawls to wrap up in when they are in the common areas. If a nursing home can get enough donations, they will oftentimes even take full sized blankets to give as a gift to each new resident upon arrival at their new home.
Shelters are always in need of throws and blankets to share with those staying in their facilities, as people often end up there with nothing more than the clothing on their backs. If the shelters are in cold areas of the country, hats and mittens are also widely accepted. Call your local homeless and battered women shelters for information on how to drop off a donation.
If you enjoy knitting or crocheting baby items, hospitals sometimes accept donations of layette items, such as preemie sets. These could include a sweater, booties, cap, and even a blanket. If you live in an area, where there exists an organization to help young mothers and other parents struggling financially, you might be able to find locations that would gladly accept donations of knitted and crocheted baby gear.
If you enjoy making small stuffed animals, or baby blankets, some police departments will accept donations for their officers to keep on hand when they are in the field and they encounter a situation where a young child might be in need of comfort. Toys can be given to toddlers and preschoolers to lighten a difficult situation, and blankets can be used with the same age groups and infants in need of comforting.
Donating your knits and crocheted items is a great way to participate in a hobby you love, and allow you to feel good about what you are doing all at the same time. Donate to one of these places, or some place of your own choosing today!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Scrapbooking Supplies you Already Have
By Christina VanGinkel
The longer someone scrapbooks, it seems the more daring they become in the supplies they use to embellish their layouts. They realize that not everything has to be store bought, or even intended for scrapping in the first place. One of my favorite things that I like to use on a page is the color cards from a paint department. I will often cut them apart and place lettering right onto the colored rectangle, but I have also used them complete, just as an accent color on a layout.
Another favorite area I like to delve into to 'borrow' supplies from for my scrapbook layouts is my office supplies. Paper clips come in a variety of colors, and are always fun accents. Even plain colored ones can be just the thing to add a bit of texture and shine to a page. Staples are a close second. So popular are staples with some people that the scrapbook market has even developed their own staplers, that use oversized decorative staples. However, the regular ones that are available in a common office stapler are also fun to use.
Calendar pages are a unique and inexpensive way to make a graphic and text based statement on a page. I especially like the small pages from pocket sized calendars, which have a graphic on top, and still provide room within the calendar itself to do some journaling.
Recycled greeting cards have been being used in designing crafts for a long time, and with scrapbooking, one more way to use these often beautiful and fun creations now exist. Whether you use the graphic on the front of the card as an embellishment on a layout, or use the card itself, attaching the back so that it can still be opened and read, they are a great way to fill space on a page without having to spend a lot of money.
I know this one might be over the top for some of you, but it is actually one of my favorite ways to make letters. I save the foil wraps from the individual coffee bags (they look like a giant tea bag but are coffee, and the wrapper is made of foil) and will cut individual letters for a title out of each one. I have used both the red side of the foil, and the silver inside for the letters. Candy bar wrappers (cleaned) are also great for this very same technique, and they can be quite eye catching on all sorts of themed pages.
Dump out your junk drawer and discover all sorts of items to use on your pages. My last foray into the depths of my junk drawer revealed an old watch that I forgot I picked up at our local St. Vincent DePaul store, which after much fiddling with still did not work. I had bought it for its beauty, in the hopes all it needed was a good cleaning. When this did not work, I still was not ready to toss it, so it landed in my sometimes seemingly bottomless drawer of junk. I took it apart and used the tiny gold hands and the linen clock face (I think it was linen anyways) on a page dedicated to how fast time flies when your child is growing up. It includes a picture of my youngest son on his Big Wheel when he is about two years old, and another one of him on his motor bike as he cleared a jump last summer. All of my embellishments are somehow related to time, and these pieces were my coup de grace for the entire layout.
If you are an established scrapper, or a newbie in this fun hobby that is once again sweeping the nation, but your budget is tight, or you just prefer using things you already have around the house, then give some of these a try, and dig through your own drawers of junk for the perfect embellishments for your next layout. You just might be pleasantly surprised at the unique look these and other found items can lend to whatever page you happen to be currently putting together. Scrapbooking does not have to cost you a lot of money, as ingenuity can really go a long ways on a layout!
The longer someone scrapbooks, it seems the more daring they become in the supplies they use to embellish their layouts. They realize that not everything has to be store bought, or even intended for scrapping in the first place. One of my favorite things that I like to use on a page is the color cards from a paint department. I will often cut them apart and place lettering right onto the colored rectangle, but I have also used them complete, just as an accent color on a layout.
Another favorite area I like to delve into to 'borrow' supplies from for my scrapbook layouts is my office supplies. Paper clips come in a variety of colors, and are always fun accents. Even plain colored ones can be just the thing to add a bit of texture and shine to a page. Staples are a close second. So popular are staples with some people that the scrapbook market has even developed their own staplers, that use oversized decorative staples. However, the regular ones that are available in a common office stapler are also fun to use.
Calendar pages are a unique and inexpensive way to make a graphic and text based statement on a page. I especially like the small pages from pocket sized calendars, which have a graphic on top, and still provide room within the calendar itself to do some journaling.
Recycled greeting cards have been being used in designing crafts for a long time, and with scrapbooking, one more way to use these often beautiful and fun creations now exist. Whether you use the graphic on the front of the card as an embellishment on a layout, or use the card itself, attaching the back so that it can still be opened and read, they are a great way to fill space on a page without having to spend a lot of money.
I know this one might be over the top for some of you, but it is actually one of my favorite ways to make letters. I save the foil wraps from the individual coffee bags (they look like a giant tea bag but are coffee, and the wrapper is made of foil) and will cut individual letters for a title out of each one. I have used both the red side of the foil, and the silver inside for the letters. Candy bar wrappers (cleaned) are also great for this very same technique, and they can be quite eye catching on all sorts of themed pages.
Dump out your junk drawer and discover all sorts of items to use on your pages. My last foray into the depths of my junk drawer revealed an old watch that I forgot I picked up at our local St. Vincent DePaul store, which after much fiddling with still did not work. I had bought it for its beauty, in the hopes all it needed was a good cleaning. When this did not work, I still was not ready to toss it, so it landed in my sometimes seemingly bottomless drawer of junk. I took it apart and used the tiny gold hands and the linen clock face (I think it was linen anyways) on a page dedicated to how fast time flies when your child is growing up. It includes a picture of my youngest son on his Big Wheel when he is about two years old, and another one of him on his motor bike as he cleared a jump last summer. All of my embellishments are somehow related to time, and these pieces were my coup de grace for the entire layout.
If you are an established scrapper, or a newbie in this fun hobby that is once again sweeping the nation, but your budget is tight, or you just prefer using things you already have around the house, then give some of these a try, and dig through your own drawers of junk for the perfect embellishments for your next layout. You just might be pleasantly surprised at the unique look these and other found items can lend to whatever page you happen to be currently putting together. Scrapbooking does not have to cost you a lot of money, as ingenuity can really go a long ways on a layout!
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